LEADER OF THE HOUSE

New Members

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Leader of the House if he will co-ordinate a series of Tuesday morning briefings for new hon. Members by each principal Government Department on its work, with the exception of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Geoff Hoon: My right hon. Friends would obviously be more than happy to arrange briefing meetings at mutually convenient times with any new hon. Members on the work of their Department.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

GM Food

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what help the UK Government plans to provide to (a) farmers and (b) milk retailers to ensure adequate supplies of important non-GM animal food.

Elliot Morley: The Government have no plans to provide specific help to farmers or milk retailers to ensure adequate supplies of imported non-GM feed for animals. This is a matter of choice, not safety, and market forces will operate to deliver feed derived from non-GM sources if there is sufficient demand from farmers and retailers. Legislation is already in place to ensure that animal feed derived from GM crops is labelled to enable farmers to make appropriate choices.

Methane Energy

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the amount of energy that will be generated from methane from (a) waste sites, (b) coal mines and (c) other sources in each of the next three years.

Elliot Morley: Estimates for energy generated from methane sources for the next three years are shown as thousand tonnes of oil equivalent (kTOE) in the following table:
	
		
			 Methane source 2006 2007 2008 
		
		
			 Operating deep mines 18 17 14 
			 Abandoned mines 30 43 45 
			 Landfill gas (electricity) 1,338 1,441 1,545 
			 Landfill gas (heat) 14 14 14 
			 Sewage gas (electricity) 170 178 187 
			 Sewage gas (heat) 64 72 79 
			 Anerobic digestion on farms minimal minimal minimal 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Estimates from coal mines are based on current generation and projections for mine closures. Number of mines generating is less than number of mines open.
	2.Estimates of energy generation from landfill and sewage gas are derived by linear interpolation, consistent with the most recent projections published by the Department of Trade and Industry for 2005 and 2010.
	3.The number of digesters currently used for anaerobic digestion on farms in the UK is thought to be very small.

Nappies

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost to date of the Environment Agency's Life Cycle Assessment on reusable and disposable nappies is; what estimate has been made of the cost of the further proposed LCA; when she expects the further LCA to be completed; and who will carry out the work.

Ben Bradshaw: The cost of the Environment Agency's Life Cycle Assessment was £200,000, which, as well as the consultant and survey costs, includes Agency staff time.
	The scope of the further work is currently being discussed with the Environment Agency and the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP). Until this is determined in detail then it is not possible to determine the cost and who will carry out the work.

Nappies

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she has put in place for assessing the (a) environmental and (b) economic effects of the WRAP Real Nappy Programme; and whether it will be (i) independently audited and (ii) made publicly available.

Ben Bradshaw: From a waste management perspective, Government's view is that use of real nappies will help the UK to meet tough EU Landfill Directive targets, which are designed to reduce environmental damage and improve resource productivity by reducing reliance on landfill.
	The Environment Agency's recently published Life Cycle Assessment has helped to provide an understanding of the environmental impact of disposables and the traditional type of re-usable nappy. The main conclusion of the study is that the overall environmental impact of disposable and reusable nappies is similar.
	The study, carried out in 2002–03, showed that terry (towelling) nappies were the main type of reusable nappy used. However, this does not reflect recent increases in the proportion of other types of reusable nappies. Further work will be undertaken to look at the environmental impacts of more modern reusables.
	WRAP reports annually on its overall progress in meeting targets, including work under the Real Nappy Programme. Future assessments will be based, for example, on information from funded schemes and from opinion research to be conducted at the end of the year.

Poultry Industry

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is in respect of the draft EU Directive on the welfare of broiler chickens, with particular reference to minimum space allocations per bird.

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to reduce the stocking densities of broiler chickens; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The European Commission has recently published proposals for a Council Directive laying down minimum rules, including a two-tier stocking density, for the protection of chickens kept for meat production.
	The Government are looking forward to working, during the UK's presidency of the EU Council of Ministers, with the Commission and other member states to progress the proposed directive. We will be holding a full public consultation on the proposals shortly.

Poultry Industry

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the threat to the UK poultry industry from avian flu.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 14 July 2005
	If there is an outbreak of disease in an exporting country Defratakes appropriate emergency safeguard action inaccordance with Community legislation. This may include a ban on imports of animals and animal products from all, or parts, of that country.
	Safeguard measures in relation to Avian influenza (Al) were put in place for affected Asian countries in January 2004 and have since been extended to 30 September 2005. Restrictions were placed on South African imports in August 2004 and have now been extended to 31 December 2005.
	The assessment of risk to the UK poultry flock of Avian influenza began in 2004 and is continuously reviewed. When there is an outbreak in a country a specific risk assessment is carried out by DEFRA experts. These assessments are published in the Vet Record Quarterly and also on DEFRA's own public website http://defraweb/animalh/diseases/monitoring/).
	In the event of an outbreak of Avian influenza in poultry in this country DEFRA would immediately invoke its exotic animal disease generic contingency plan, which sets out measures for the management of an outbreak of Avian influenza. The plan has been the subject of a formal public consultation exercise, in particular taking on board comments from the UK poultry industry.

Rainforest

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the loss of rainforest habitat in square miles in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Information on forest loss is published by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. The FAO estimate that the net percentage of forest cover lost worldwide between 1990 and 2000 was 2.37 per cent. This represents an estimated total worldwide loss in forest cover between 1990 and 2000 of 362, 834 miles 2 .
	This information is only available for all types of forest cover and in set assessment cycles. The last assessment cycle was to 2000, it is not possible to isolate figures from 1997, or just for rainforests.
	Please see the table which summarises the current global data available for forest resources by region.
	Forest cover date for individual countries may be found in the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000 Main Report". This is published by the FAO and is available online via the following web link:http://www.fao.org/forestry/fo/fra/main/index.jsp
	
		Forest resources by region
		
			   Forest area 2000 
			  Land area Natural forest Forest plantation Total forest Area change 1990–2000 (total forest) 
			 Region ha ha ha ha Percentage ha/capita ha/year Percentage 
		
		
			 Africa 2,978,394 641,830 8,036 649,866 21.8 0.8 -5,262 -0.8 
			 Asia 3,084,746 431,946 115,847 547,793 17.8 0.2 -364 -0.1 
			 Europe 2,259,957 1,007,236 32,015 1,039,251 46.0 1.4 881 0.1 
			 North and Central America  and the Caribbean 2,136,966 531,771 17,533 549,304 25.7 1.1 -570 -0.1 
			 Oceania 849,096 194,775 2,848 197,623 23.3 6.6 -365 -0.2 
			 South America! 1,754,741 875,631 10,455 885,618 50.5 2.6 -3,711 -0.4 
			 Total world 13,063,900 3,682,722 186,733 3,869,455 29.6 0.6 -9,391 -0.2 
		
	
	Note:
	Table taken from appendices to: Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000—Main Report".

Rainforest

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on UK policy towards protection of rainforest habitat.

Elliot Morley: The UK Government are concerned about the loss of rainforest habitats, and we are working with rainforest countries to promote sustainable development around the world. We recognise the efforts of Brazilian and other Governments to address the problems in the Amazon region and are working together to promote sustainable forest management and the implementation of policies on the ground.
	To that end, Defra is working closely in conjunction on this issue with the Department for International Development and the Foreign Office.
	The UK Government are involved with a number of initiatives. In Brazil the Government have contributed £14 million to the multi-donor pilot programme for the preservation of Brazilian rain forests. In addition the UK is a major contributor to the global environment facility (GEF) that is creating and maintaining protected areas in the region through the Amazon region protected areas programme. The managers of the GEF have approved or endorsed funding for 29 projects in Brazil, with a value of approximately £150 million.
	The UK continues to support projects in the Amazon through multilateral organisations, including the European Commission and the World Bank.
	The UK Government also recognises the role that trade can play in promoting sustainable rainforest management. Within the EU Britain is taking a leading role in championing an action plan on forest law enforcement, Governance and trade, which is aimed at combating illegal logging and international trade in illegally harvested timber. And since 1976 Britain has been a signatory to the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

Recycling

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much and what percentage of domestic waste was recycled in each London borough in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: Results from the last five available years of tonnages of household waste collected for recycling and corresponding household waste recycling rates are from the joint Defra/Greater London Authority (GLA) Municipal Waste Management Survey.
	The four London joint waste disposal authorities have been included in the following table:
	
		
			  1999–2000 2000–01 
			 London authority Recycling (tonnage) Recycling rate (percentage) Recycling (tonnage) Recycling rate (percentage) 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 2,226 3 2,532 4 
			 Barnet 10,245 8 10,332 8 
			 Bexley 18,398 18 18,305 17 
			 Brent 6,165 6 7,122 7 
			 Bromley 20,530 13 23,064 13 
			 Camden 12,691 13 16,061 16 
			 Croydon 15,377 13 16,455 12 
			 Ealing 15,095 12 15,083 12 
			 East London Waste Authority 18,571 5 17,300 4 
			 Enfield 8,521 9 8,454 8 
			 Greenwich 4,840 4 7,091 5 
			 Hackney 1,740 2 1,043 1 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 4,849 7 5,362 8 
			 Haringey 4,449 5 4,973 5 
			 Harrow 8,723 10 9,418 11 
			 Havering 6,931 8 5,383 6 
			 Hillingdon 10,936 11 13,345 13 
			 Hounslow 14,961 14 13,130 13 
			 Islington 1,864 2 4,386 5 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 8,694 13 5,458 8 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 13,302 18 13,165 20 
			 Lambeth 7,810 8 9,745 9 
			 Lewisham 4,558 4 5,211 5 
			 London Corporation 8 0 13 0 
			 Merton 10,438 11 11,991 18 
			 Newham 2,563 3 2,370 3 
			 North London Waste Authority 48,299 7 55,896 8 
			 Redbridge 6,851 8 7,015 9 
			 Richmond upon Thames n/a n/a 14,020 15 
			 Southwark 3,162 3 3,104 3 
			 Sutton 24,182 27 20,754 25 
			 Tower Hamlets 1,816 3 2,058 3 
			 Waltham Forest 7,373 9 7,934 9 
			 Wandsworth 7,262 7 7,397 7 
			 West London Waste Authority 72,225 9 73,578 11 
			 Western Riverside Waste Authority 39,834 11 29,240 8 
			 Westminster City 6,122 7 6,388 7 
		
	
	
		
			  2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
			 London authority Recycling (tonnage) Recycling rate (percentage) Recycling (tonnage) Recycling rate (percentage) Recycling (tonnage) Recycling rate (percentage) 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 2,045 3 2,090 3 3,553 5 
			 Barnet 11,478 8 17,936 13 22,888 16 
			 Bexley 22,793 20 25,915 23 22,532 21 
			 Brent 6,997 7 7,725 8 9,919 10 
			 Bromley 22,816 14 23,121 15 29,296 20 
			 Camden 11,208 12 13,857 14 18,281 19 
			 Croydon 14,777 12 15,740 13 17,377 14 
			 Ealing 13,186 13 15,526 15 15,494 15 
			 East London Waste Authority 29,015 6 29,645 6 37,707 8 
			 Enfield 13,323 13 15,019 14 16,585 16 
			 Greenwich 8,362 7 9,591 7 12,966 12 
			 Hackney 1,073 1 2,426 3 5,151 6 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 5,448 8 5,667 10 8,901 16 
			 Haringey 4,404 5 4,365 5 8,715 9 
			 Harrow 9,624 13 8,767 12 12,377 16 
			 Havering 8,399 9 4,104 5 7,349 8 
			 Hillingdon 20,036 20 24,853 28 32,095 34 
			 Hounslow 13,516 16 16,269 20 15,329 20 
			 Islington 4,513 6 4,864 6 5,624 7 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 5,621 9 5,162 9 8,517 15 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 12,903 18 13,515 18 14,342 19 
			 Lambeth 8,761 8 9,312 10 10,200 11 
			 Lewisham 6,473 6 7,148 7 8,939 8 
			 London Corporation 9 0 50 1 442 8 
			 Merton 10,623 15 11,580 15 10,732 16 
			 Newham 3,290 3 5,247 5 2,938 2 
			 North London Waste Authority 52,668 7 72,533 10 94,459 12 
			 Redbridge 8,202 10 11,101 13 8,509 9 
			 Richmond upon Thames 15,414 19 17,910 23 18,684 24 
			 Southwark 3,828 4 4,755 4 7,518 7 
			 Sutton 13,669 16 16,498 19 21,652 25 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,138 3 2,684 3 4,088 5 
			 Waltham Forest 6,669 8 8,975 11 9,982 12 
			 Wandsworth 7,765 8 9,558 10 15,662 18 
			 West London Waste Authority 80,370 11 94,967 14 107,389 16 
			 Western Riverside Waste Authority 29,739 8 32,213 10 46,202 15 
			 Westminster City 6,870 9 7,455 10 9,065 11 
		
	
	n/a=not available
	Further details regarding London waste and recycling issues are obtainable from www.capitalwastefacts.com.

Recycling

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many recycling points there are in (a) the East Riding of Yorkshire council and (b) Kingston-upon-Hull city council per 1,000 population.

Ben Bradshaw: Results from the 2003–04 Defra Municipal Waste Management Survey are listed as follows.
	
		
			  (a) East Riding of Yorkshire (b) Kingston-upon-Hull city council 
		
		
			 Recycling sites 124 52 
			 Civic amenity sites 10 1 
			 Total sites 134 53 
			 Recycling sites per  1,000 population 1.0 0.5

Water Resources

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 20 June 2005, Official Report, column 674W, on the Water Resources Treatment and Action Programme, if she will place in the Library her Department's response to the European Commission investigation into UK compliance with the provisions under Article 3(1) and Annex 1A and Articles 5(2), 5(3), 10 and Annex 1B of Council Directive 91/271/EEC concerning urban waste water treatment.

Elliot Morley: Following careful consideration, I regret to inform you that we have decided not to place a copy of the response in the Library of the House.
	The information is being withheld as the Department considers its disclosure would have an adverse effect on international relations between the UK and the Commission and on the course of justice. This is because the information relates to open infraction proceedings and ongoing investigations. For the same reasons disclosure would not be in the public interest at this stage of the proceedings.

Water Resources

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what long-term measures the Department is taking to tackle water shortages; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency is the statutory body with a duty to manage water resources in England and Wales. As part of the Agency's management role it has national and regional water resource strategies which set out the pressures over the next 25 years.
	Water companies have duties to maintain adequate supplies of water. They have 25 year water resource plans which complement the Agency strategies and seek to reconcile supply with anticipated demand. These water resource plans are produced voluntarily at present but will become a statutory requirement under the provisions of the Water Act 2003.
	Each water company also has a drought plan which sets out how the company will continue to meet its duties to supply adequate quantities of wholesome water during drought periods with as little recourse as possible to drought orders and permits. These too are produced voluntarily at present but will become a statutory requirement as part of the implementation of the Water Act 2003 later this year.

TRANSPORT

Advertising

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Department spent on advertising in each of the last five years.

Karen Buck: For details on the Department's advertising expenditure for the past three financial years, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow) today (UIN 9498).
	Figures for advertising expenditure for the prior two financial years could be provided only at disproportionate cost, due to departmental re-organisations.

Advertising

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the (a) Department and (b) non-departmental bodies for which the Department is responsible has spent on advertising in the last three years, broken down by media type.

Karen Buck: The requested figures are set out in the table. The majority of advertising investment by my Department is in support of the THINK! road safety campaign. Among non-departmental bodies for which the Department is responsible, major advertising investment has been by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, most recently to explain changes to the car tax rules. These changes have resulted in 700,000 fewer unlicensed vehicles on our roads and have recovered £77 million of tax revenue.
	
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Department for Transport (Central) 
			 TV 5,600,000 6,000,000 4,750,000 
			 Radio 2,600,000 2,500,000 2,160,000 
			 Press 205,000 538,000 186,000 
			 Other 1,100,000 1,300,000 1,660,000 
			 
			 Non-departmental bodies for which the Department is responsible 
			 TV 2,190,000 4,670,000 3,290,000 
			 Radio 1,800,000 1,040,000 1,740,000 
			 Press 3,160,000 2,900,000 3,500,000 
			 Other 1,300,000 2,210,000 1,340,000

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment has been made of carbon dioxide emissions from traffic on the (a) A66/A174/A1053 Darlington to Teesport, (b) A69 (Newcastle to Carlisle), (c) A69 Carlisle to Newcastle, (d) M1 Junction 30 to end (A1) and M62 and (e) M1 Lofthouse to Bramham link road in the last year for which figures are available before construction works began; how many accidents occurred on each road in that year; how many resulted in (i) fatalities and (ii) serious injuries; what forecast has been made of likely levels after construction works are completed; and when each scheme is due to (A) begin and (B) be completed;
	(2)  what assessment has been made of carbon dioxide emissions from traffic on the (a) M1/M10 (London to M6, Junction 19), (b) M11 London to Cambridge, (c) M18 Goole to Rotherham, (d) M180 Thorne to Brigg and (e) M2 Junctions 5–6 to Bredgar Section in the last year for which figures are available before construction works began; how many accidents occurred on each road in that year; how many resulted in (i) fatalities and (ii) serious injuries; what forecast has been made of likely future levels after construction works are completed; and when each scheme is due to (A) begin and (B) be completed;
	(3)  what assessment has been made of carbon dioxide emissions from traffic on the (a) A46 Leicester to Lincoln, (b) A47 Thorney Bypass, (c) A47/A12 Peterborough to Lowestoft, (d) A5 Weeford to Fazeley Improvement and (e) A5/A483/A458 Shrewsbury to Chester to Welshpool in the last year for which figures are available before construction works began; how many accidents occurred on each road in that year; how many resulted in (i) fatalities and (ii) serious injuries; what forecast has been made of the likely levels after construction works are completed; and when each scheme is due to (A) begin and (B) be completed;
	(4)  what assessment has been made of carbon dioxide emissions from traffic on the (a) A50 from A6 Island to Main Street, (b) A50 Stoke to Derby link, (c) A50/A500 Nottingham to Stoke, (d) A500 City Road and Stoke Junction Improvement and (e) A556 Knutsford to Bowdon in the last year for which figures are available before construction works began; how many accidents occurred on each road in that year; how many resulted in (i) fatalities and (ii) serious injuries; what forecast has been made of the likely levels after construction works are completed; and when each scheme is due to (A) begin and (B) be completed;
	(5)  what assessment has been made of carbon dioxide emissions from traffic on the (a) M20 Junction 10 Improvement, (b) M23 Hooley Junction Improvement, (c) M25 Heathrow Terminal 5, (d) M25 Junctions 12 to 15 widening and (e) M25 to Dover—M26/M20/A20 in the last year for which figures are available before construction works began; how many accidents occurred on each stretch of road in that year; how many resulted in (i) fatalities and (ii) serious injuries; what forecast has been made of the likely levels after construction works are completed; and when each scheme is due to (A) begin and (B) be completed;
	(6)  what assessment has been made of carbon dioxide emissions from traffic on the (a) A66 Carkin Moor to Scotch Corner Improvement, (b) A66 Dualling Bowes Bypass, (c) A66 Dualling Cross Lanes to Greta Bridge, (d) A66 Dualling Stephen Bank to Carkin Moor and (e) A66 Greta Bridge to Stephen Bank Improvement in the last year for which figures are available; how many accidents occurred on each road in that year; how many resulted in (i) fatalities and (ii) serious injuries; what forecast has been made of the likely levels after construction works are completed; and when each scheme is due to (A) begin and (B) be completed;
	(7)  what assessment has been made of carbon dioxide emissions from traffic on the (a) M62 Junctions 25 to 27 and (b) A259(T)/A2070 Hastings to Ashford in the last year for which figures are available before construction works began; how many accidents occurred on each road in that year; how many resulted in (i) fatalities and (ii) serious injuries; what forecast has been made of the likely levels after construction works are completed; and when each scheme is due to (A) begin and (B) be completed;
	(8)  what assessment he has made of carbon dioxide emissions from traffic on the (a) A34 Bicester to Winchester, (b) A38 Burton Bypass, (c) A419 Swindon to Gloucester, (d) A421 Great Barford Bypass and (e) A43/A45 (M40 Bicester to A14 Thrapston) in the last year for which figures are available before construction works began; how many accidents occurred on each road in that year; how many resulted in (i) fatalities and (ii) serious injuries; what forecast has been made of likely levels after construction works are completed; and when each scheme is due to (A) begin and (B) be completed.

Stephen Ladyman: A table has been placed in the Libraries of the House showing emission estimates for the Highways Agency road schemes where data is available.
	A table has been placed in the Libraries of the House showing, for the Highways Agency road schemes where data is available, how many accidents occurred on each road in that year; how many fatalities and serious injuries occurred; and when each scheme is due to begin and be completed.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of carbon dioxide emissions from traffic on the (a) A13 between the M25 and Southend, (b) A127 between the M25 and Southend and (c) A130 from the A127 to its end on Canvey Island.

Stephen Ladyman: No such assessment has been made.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the UK's carbon dioxide reduction targets; and what her policy is on (a) disaggregating the targets between devolved regions of the UK and (b) devolving responsibility for meeting those targets to the devolved regions.

Elliot Morley: Estimates that were published in March 2005 show that the UK is on course to meet its Kyoto protocol commitment to reduce emissions of a basket of six greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, by 12.5 per cent. Below base level years by 2008–12. The data released in March also indicates that, even without the further action currently being considered under the review of the UK Climate Change Programme, the UK will be about 20 per cent. below base year levels in 2010. This is a significant achievement.
	The UK have set itself an ambitious domestic goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010. Our most recent projections show that, on the basis of existing policies, emissions of carbon dioxide will fall by about 13 per cent. below the 1990 level by 2010. We therefore recognise that more needs to be done. Our review of the UK Climate Change Programme is examining how existing policies are performing and is considering additional measures that we could implement to put the UK back on track to achieving the domestic goal. The outcome of this review will be announced before the end of the year.
	Many of the means by which emissions can be reduced have been devolved to the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish administrations, but the UK Government maintain overall responsibility for the Kyoto target and for ensuring that a programme is put in place for delivering it. The devolution legislation do contain powers that could be used to bind the administrations to the UK's international target but the Government do not propose to use these powers because it is confident that significant reductions can be, and are being, delivered through working in partnership.
	The Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish administrations are also committed to the UK's domestic carbon dioxide goal. The nature of the 20 per cent. goal is different, in that it is not a legally binding target, and the UK Government and the administrations aim to achieve it through a balanced, partnership approach rather than through a set of quantified, contributions from the different parts of the UK.

Concessionary Travel

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of extending free travel to carers of people with disabilities.

Karen Buck: None. Local authorities will remain able to offer concessions to carers of people with disabilities. This will continue to be at their discretion, based on their judgment of local needs and circumstances and their overall financial priorities.

Concessionary Travel

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what factors were used to calculate the distribution of Government support for the half-fare concession for the over-60s; and if he will place in the Library the assessment of each relevant authority against those factors.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government provides funding for concessionary fares through the Revenue Support Grant system.
	Concessionary fares is one of the services covered in the district-level Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services Formula Spending Share formula. This formula looks at the relative need to spend by authorities on all services covered by the formula. It is not possible to disaggregate this formula.
	Formula Spending Shares are neither the Government's assessment of how much an authority should spend on a particular service nor are they grant. Instead they are simply the formulae used to derive the amount of Formula Grant (i.e. Revenue Support Grant, Redistributed Business Rates and Police Grant, where appropriate).
	Formula Grant supports authorities over a wide-range of services. It is not intended to entirely support any of those services as authorities can also raise income from council taxes. It is therefore not possible to work out how much grant an authority received with respect to concessionary fares.
	Details of the 2005–06 calculations of formula grant are already available in the Library of the House.

Consultants

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to issue guidance on effective commissioning for those in the public and voluntary sectors who are commissioning work from external consultants.

Karen Buck: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer of 27 June 2005, Official Report, column 1286W, given by my hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Crossrail (Exeter and Plymouth)

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Crossrail on (a) reliability and (b) speed of train services to Exeter and Plymouth.

Derek Twigg: During normal operations on the greatwestern main line into Paddington, Crossrail will operate on the northern pair of tracks, known as the relief lines. Crossrail services will not affect the southern pair of lines, known as the main lines, on which services to Exeter and Plymouth operate, and there is no intention of displacing existing traffic from the relief to the main lines.

Departmental Bills

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what Bills have been sponsored by his Department in each session since 1979.

Karen Buck: The Department for Transport was formed on 29 May 2002 since when it has been responsible for the following Bills:
	Session 2002–03
	Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003
	Session 2003–04
	Traffic Management Act 2004
	Session 2004–05
	Railways Act 2005
	Road Safety Bill
	Crossrail Bill
	Session 2005–06
	Road Safety Bill [Lords];
	Merchant Shipping [Pollution] Bill [Lords];
	Civil Aviation Bill;
	Crossrail Bill

Departmental Targets

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the targets that each Executive Agency his Department is responsible for has set for itself during the next 12 months.

Karen Buck: Targets set by the Highways Agency are published in its business plan. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency's targets are published on its website. Targets for the Driver, Vehicle and Operator (DVO) Group Agencies are published in the DVO Group's Corporate Plan, which can be found on the Department's website.

EU Contractors

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list companies based in other EU member states that are providing (a) bus services, (b) train services, (c) maintenance services to NetworkRail, (d) London Underground services and (e) London Underground maintenance services.

Stephen Ladyman: None.

Foreign Hauliers

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on changes to charges imposed on foreign hauliers using UK roads.

Stephen Ladyman: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the House on 5 July 2005, Official Report, columns 171–73.

International Car Free Day

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to support International Car Free Day on 22 September.

Karen Buck: holding answer 14 July 2005
	The Department sponsors the UK Co-ordinator of the In Town, Without My Car!" campaign to oversee the process by which local authorities in England and Wales register to participate in International Car Free Day.
	Each local authority have been sent a newsletter and information about European Mobility Week which will take place between 16 and 22 September and they have been invited to register to participate in the event.
	Regional workshops are being held and information disseminated via the DFT website linked to the campaign. A Good Practice Guide is also available free of charge to members of the public.
	The results of the campaign are registered on the website of www.22september.org and are used to monitor progress and the effectiveness of individual initiatives.

Road Accidents (Horses)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents involving horses occurred in each year since 2000.

Stephen Ladyman: The numbers of personal injury road accidents in Great Britain involving at least one ridden horse are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Fatal accidents Serious accidents Slight accidents All personal injury accidents 
		
		
			 2000 2 29 121 152 
			 2001 4 19 130 153 
			 2002 1 25 123 149 
			 2003 4 34 115 153 
			 2004 2 30 106 138

Tonnage Tax

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 11 July 2005, Official Report, column 677W, on tonnage tax, what the final date is for companies to make returns for the year 2003–04; and what the penalties are for failure to make a return.

Stephen Ladyman: Regulations provide that companies/groups should make end of period adjustment returns within 30 days after the end of each relevant four month period. The returns for the last such period in 2003–04 should therefore have been made by the end of October 2004. A person commits an offence if, without reasonable excuse, he fails to make a return required by the regulations, and he is liable on summary conviction to a fine up to the statutory maximum and on indictment to a fine.

Tonnage Tax

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 11 July 2005, Official Report, columns 676–77W, on tonnage tax, 
	(1) what the names are of the 19 companies and groups involved; what payments were made by each company and group; how the calculation was made in each case; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the names are of the companies and groups which have been required to pay a surcharge on their payments in lieu of training; and what payments have been made by each.

Stephen Ladyman: Disclosure of the names of the companies and groups concerned is prohibited on tax confidentiality grounds under section 182 of the Finance Act 1989.

Traffic

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what the traffic levels were on the (a) M1/M10 (London to M6, Junction 19), (b) M11 London to Cambridge, (c) M18 Goole to Rotherham, (d) M180 Thorne to Brigg and (e) M2 Junctions 5–6 to Bredgar Section in the last year for which figures are available before construction works began; and what forecast has been made of likely levels after construction works are completed;
	(2)  what the traffic levels were on the (a) M20 Junction 10 Improvement, (b) M23 Hooley Junction Improvement, (c) M25 Heathrow Terminal 5, (d) M25 Junction 12 to 15 Widening and (e) M25 to Dover—M26/M20/A20 in the last year for which figures are available before construction works began; and what forecast has been made of likely levels after construction works are completed;
	(3)  what the traffic levels were on the (a) A46 Leicester to Lincoln, (b) A47 Thorney Bypass, (c) A47/A12 Peterborough to Lowestoft, (d) A5 Weeford to Fazeley Improvement and (e) A5/A483/A458 Shrewsbury to Chester to Welshpool in the last year for which figures are available before construction works began; and what forecast has been made of the likely levels after construction works are completed;
	(4)  what the traffic levels were on the (a) A50 from A6 Island to Main Street, (b) A50 Stoke to Derby link, (c) A50/A500 Nottingham to Stoke, (d) A500 City Road and Stoke Junction Improvement and (e) A556 Knutsford to Bowdon in the last year for which figures are available before construction works began; and what forecast has been made of the likely levels after construction works are completed;
	(5)  what the traffic levels were on the (a) A66/A174/A1053 Darlington to Teesport, (b) A69 Newcastle to Carlisle, (c) A69 Carlisle to Newcastle, (d) M1 Junction 30 to end (A1) and M621 and (e) M1 Lofthouse to Bramham link road in the last year for which figures are available before construction works began; and what forecast has been made of the likely levels after construction works are completed;
	(6)  what the traffic levels were on the (a) M62 Junctions 25 to 27 and (b) A259(T)/A2070 Hastings to Ashford in the last year for which figures are available; and what forecast has been made of the likely levels after construction works are completed;
	(7)  what the traffic levels were on the (a) A34 Bicester to Winchester, (b) A38 Burton Bypass, (c) A419 Swindon to Gloucester, (d) A421 Great Barford Bypass and (e) A43/A45 (M40 Bicester to A14 Thrapston) in the last year for which figures are available before construction works began; and what forecast has been made of the likely levels after construction works are completed.

Stephen Ladyman: A table has been placed in the Libraries of the House showing traffic levels for the Highways Agency road schemes where data is available.

Transport (Under-16s)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the price in (a) Essex and (b) the Metropolitan Police Area of London was of (i) a bus and (ii) a rail fare for a person under 16 years of age in each year since 1975.

Karen Buck: The information is not available. In general, detailed information on local bus and rail fares is not collected or held centrally. In London, children aged 5 to 10 currently travel free on buses, while those aged 11 to 15 currently pay a single fare rate of 40p.

Transport Innovation Fund

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in what document the funding available for local authorities under the Transport Innovation Fund was announced; and where in the document the information is provided.

Karen Buck: The Transport Innovation Fund was announced in the Future of Transport" White Paper (July 2004), showing the predicted budget profile (annexA) and outlining the aims of the TIF.
	Further information on the Transport Innovation Fund was published on 5 July 2005 in a paper entitled The Transport Innovation Fund" and a statement was made to the House on 5 July 2005, Official Report, columns 171–73.
	The Transport Innovation Fund paper is available in the House Libraries and on the DfT website at www.dft.gov.uk

Vehicle Tests

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much of the fee for an MOT vehicle test goes to his Department; what such monies are utilised for; and what assessment he has made of the scope for reducing the amount being charged.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 12 July 2005
	The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) receive £1.44 from the fee for each passed test. These moneys are used to pay for the administration of the MOT Scheme including training and refresher training of garage Authorised Examiners and Nominated Testers, MOT computerisation and the enforcement of the Scheme.
	The VOSA charge for pass certificates is regularly reviewed and is currently frozen pending full roll out of computerised services.

Vehicle Tests

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects of the computerisation of the MOT vehicle test on (a) his Department, (b) MOT testing stations and (c) vehicle owners.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 5 July 2005
	Internal and external assessments have been conducted throughout the design and development of the MOT computerisation service.

CABINET OFFICE

Food Supplements Directive

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action Ministers in the Cabinet Office have taken with the European Commission as a result of the statement by the Prime Minister on 26 May 2005 that the Food Supplements Directive is wholly out of proportion.

John Hutton: Responsibility for the Food Supplements Directive rests with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health. However, the Government believe that in all cases where the European Union (EU) regulates, it should do so proportionately and in the way which is least burdensome to stakeholders. My ministerial colleagues and I take every opportunity to emphasise the importance of better regulation at the EU level to the European Commission.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

ASBOs

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will bring forward proposals (a) to simplify and (b) to speed up the enforcement proceedings associated with breaches in antisocial behaviour orders.

Harriet Harman: There are no specific proposals to simplify or speed up enforcement proceedings for breaches of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs). The courts aim to deal with breaches of ASBOs as quickly as the interests of justice allow.

Departmental Bills

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will list Bills sponsored by the Department and its predecessor in each Session since 1979.

Bridget Prentice: A list of Bills sponsored by my Department, and its predecessor since 1997 is set out in the following table.
	
		
			 Session Bills 
		
		
			 1997–98 Audit Commission (Consolidation) 
			  Human Rights 
			  Magistrates Courts (Procedure) 
			  Petroleum (Consolidation) 
			  Statute Law Repeals 
			  Supreme Court Offices 
			 1998–99 Access to Justice 
			  Contracts (Right of Third Parties) 
			  Trustee Delegation 
			 1999–2000 Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) 
			  Trustee 
			 2000–01 Commonhold and Leasehold Reform(1) 
			  Criminal Defence Service (Advice and Assistance) 
			 2001–02 Commonhold and Leasehold Reform 
			  European Parliamentary Elections 
			  Land Registration 
			  Public Trustee (Liability and Fees) 
			 2002–03 Courts 
			  European Parliamentary (Representation) 
			  European Parliament and Local Elections (Pilots) 
			 2003–04 European Parliament and Local Elections (Pilots)(2) 
			  Constitutional Reform 
			  Gender Recognition 
			  Mental Capacity 
			  Statute Law Repeals 
			 2004–05 Criminal Defence Service(1) 
			  Constitutional Reform(3) 
			  Mental Capacity(3) 
			  Inquiries 
			 2005–06 Criminal Defence Service 
		
	
	(1)The Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill fell in the 2000–2001 session and the Criminal Defence Service Bill fell in the 2004–2005 session due to lack of Parliamentary time.
	(2)The European Parliament and Local Elections Bill was carried over from the 2002–03 session.
	(3)The Constitutional Reform and Mental Capacity Bills were carried over from the 2003–04 session.

Burial Grounds

Charles Walker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  what the purpose is of the Home Office Burial Grounds Survey; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the adequacy of cemetery space; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what budget the Department has set aside to fund its Burial Grounds Survey; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  how many responses she has received to the Home Office Burial Grounds survey; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The purpose of the survey is to obtain information on the location and capacity of existing and former burial grounds in England and Wales. It is part of a wider Government initiative to review burial law and practice, including the provision of burial space. The cost has been estimated as at £50,000.
	As at 13 July, 8,787 completed survey forms have been received.

Court of Appeal (Judges)

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs who is responsible for allocating judges to hear appeal cases in the Court of Appeal.

Harriet Harman: Allocation of judges to hear appeal cases in the Court of Appeal is the responsibility of Lord Chief Justice, in respect of the Criminal Division, and the Master of the Rolls, in respect of the Civil Division.

Court Service Computer System

Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the practice in criminal court cases in Lincoln whereby witnesses are sent a text message when they are due in court; whether such a system has reduced the time witnesses spend waiting to give evidence; what effect it has had on witnesses attending on time; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: Text messaging is one of the means by which XHIBIT (exchanging Hearing Information By Internet Technology) can communicate with witnesses. XHIBIT is being rolled out to all Crown courts across England and Wales by the end of March 2006. The new system was introduced at Lincoln Combined Court on 11 April 2005. XHIBIT also enables witnesses to track the progress of a case via public display screens in the court building or via the internet.
	At this stage of the roll-out it is too early to make an assessment of the text messaging system and the impact on witness waiting times, that is specific to Lincoln. The results of an evaluation of efficiency improvements at the first 11 courts to receive XHIBIT have been very positive. A similar initial assessment is due to take place at Lincoln in late September.

Immigration

Mike Hancock: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the letter from the Immigrant Appellate Authority, to Bury Law Centre, dated 13 January, reference HX/02411/ 2003, which issues are repeatedly occurring and causing delays in determining cases; and in respect of which countries.

Bridget Prentice: The Immigration Appeals Tribunal (IAT) developed a system of country guidance cases to facilitate consistent decision making. This enabled the IAT to issue guidance cases on the circumstances and risks to certain groups in particular countries following a detailed assessment of the available country information. The IAT (and now Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT)) nominates leader cases which contain issues consistently seen by Tribunal judiciary. These lead to other cases being identified as containing very similar issues to that of the leader case—known as follower cases—which are heard and determined once the leader case has been promulgated. The number of leader cases currently awaiting determination has caused some delays in listing the follower cases for hearing. There has been some further delay due to the commencement of the AIT on 4 April 2005, created by a merger of the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA) and the IAT. The leader cases, which number approximately 100, are expected to be listed to be heard substantively in September and October of this year, and once these have been determined the follower cases, approximately 300 in number, will then be listed for hearing as soon as is practicable.

Immigration

Mike Hancock: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many cases are awaiting determination by the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA); and what the average time between the receipt by the IAA of an appeal and a final decision being made was in the last period for which figures are available.

Bridget Prentice: The latest provisional information shows that by the end of March 2005 the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA) had the following outstanding work: 25,304 Adjudicator appeals, 5,217 applications for permission to appeal to the Immigration Appeal Tribunal (IAT) and 4,783 substantive IAT appeal hearings. On 4 April 2005 the commencement of section 26 of The Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 introduced a unified appeals system under the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT). All outstanding work from the IAA and the IAT was transferred to an equivalent appeal stage within the AIT process. Provisional information indicates that, for the period 1 January 2003 to 31 March 2005, the average time between the receipt by the IAA of an appeal and a final decision being made was 25 weeks.

Magistrates Courts

Mark Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which magistrates courts have closed since May 1997, broken down by parliamentary constituency; and what the date of each closure was.

Harriet Harman: Up until 1 April 2005 magistrates courts were the responsibility of locally managed magistrates courts committees. The magistrates courts that have closed since May 1997 broken down by parliamentary constituency are set out in the following table.
	
		
			 Courthouse Date Constituency 
		
		
			 Magistrates courthouse closures from May 1997  
			 Bromsgrove 31 May 1997 Bromsgrove 
			 Ledbury 31 May 1997 Leominster 
			 Hebburn 5 June 1997 Jarrow 
			 South Shields (Kepple Street) 5 June 1997 South Shields 
			 Chippenham (Market Place) 30 June 1997 North Wiltshire 
			 Ashton under Lyne (Manchester Road) 31 August 1997 Ashton-Under-Lyne 
			 Duckinsfield 31 August 1997 Denton and Reddish 
			 Thorne 31 August 1997 Doncaster North 
			 Pontardawe 9 October 1997 Neath 
			 Braintree 31 December 1997 Braintree 
			 Stokesley 31 December 1997 Richmond (Yorks) 
			 Clacton on Sea 31 October 1997 Harwich 
			 Bargoed 31 December 1997 Caerphilly 
			 Monmouth 31 December 1997 Monmouth 
			 Pontlottyn 31 December 1997 Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney 
			 Pontypool 31 December 1997 Torfaen 
			
			 Magistrates courthouse closures in 1998  
			 Malton 6 February 1998 Ryedale 
			 Marlborough Street 31 March 1998 Cities of London and Westminster 
			 Bishop's Stortford 31 March 1998 Hertford and Stortford 
			 Hatfield 31 March 1998 Welwyn Hatfield 
			 Hitchin 31 March 1998 Hitchin and Harpenden 
			 Market Rasen 31 March 1998 Gainsborough 
			 Chertsey 31 March 1998 Runnymede and Weybridge 
			 Farnham 31 March 1998 South West Surrey 
			 Oxted 31 March 1998 East Surrey 
			 Lutterworth 31 July1998 Harborough 
			 Ripon 1 August 1998 Skipton and Ripon 
			 Barnard Castle 31 December 1998 Bishop Auckland 
			 Clerkenwell 31 December 1998 Islington South and Finsbury 
			 Sheerness 31 December 1998 Canterbury 
			 West Malling 31 December1998 Tonbridge and Malling 
			 Lytham 31 December 1998 Fylde 
			 Diss 31 December 1998 South Norfolk 
			 Corwen 31 December 1998 Clwyd South 
			 Felixstowe 31 December 1998 Suffolk Coastal 
			 Haverhill 31 December 1998 West Suffolk 
			 Saxmundham 31 December 1998 Suffolk Coastal 
			 Stowmarket 31 December 1998 Bury St. Edmunds 
			 Newmarket 31 December 1998 West Suffolk 
			 March 31 December 1998 North East Cambridgeshire 
			 Saffron Walden 31 December 1998 Saffron Walden 
			
			 Magistrates courthouse closures in 1999  
			 Christchurch 31 March 1999 Christchurch 
			 Abingdon 31 March 1999 Oxford West and Abingdon 
			 Henley on Thames 31 March 1999 Henley 
			 Windsor 31 March 1999 Windsor 
			 Morley 31 March 1999 Morley and Rothwell 
			 Pudsey 31 March 1999 Pudsey 
			 Stow on the Wold 30 June 1999 Stroud 
			
			 Magistrates courthouse closures in 2000  
			 Ampthill 1 January 2000 Mid Bedfordshire 
			 Biggleswade 1 January 2000 North East Bedfordshire 
			 Dunstable 1 January 2000 Mid Bedfordshire 
			 Leighton Buzzard 1 January 2000 Bedfordshire South West 
			 Lichfield 31 March 2000 Tamworth 
			 Keighley 1 April 2000 Keighley 
			 Keswick 30 April 2000 Workington 
			 Windermere 31 May 2000 Westmorland and Lonsdale 
			 Wigton 31 May 2000 Penrith and the Border 
			 Appleby 31 May 2000 Penrith and the Border 
			 Gravesend 9 June 2000 Gravesham 
			 Wootton Bassett 2 October 2000 North Wiltshire 
			 Abergele 31 December 2000 Clwyd West 
			
			 Magistrates courthouse closures in 2001  
			 Alfreton 1 January 2001 Amber Valley 
			 Ashbourne 1 January 2001 West Derbyshire 
			 Bakewell 1 January 2001 West Derbyshire 
			 Matlock l January 2001 West Derbyshire 
			 Leigh 31 March 2001 Leigh 
			 Middleton 31 March 2001 Heywood and Middleton 
			 Leek 31 March 2001 Staffordshire Moorlands 
			 Worcester 31 March 2001 Hereford and Worcester 
			 Warrington Patten Hall 1 April 2001 Warrington South 
			 Macclesfield Park Green 1 April 2001 Macclesfield 
			 Bideford 30 April 200l Torridge and West Devon 
			 Exmouth 30 April 2001 East Devon 
			 Kingsbridge 30 April 2001 Totnes 
			 South Molton 30 April 2001 North Devon 
			 Teignmouth 30 April 2001 Teignbridge 
			 Tavistock 30 April 2001 Torridge and West Devon 
			 Axminster 4 May 2001 East Devon 
			 Tiverton 4 May 200l Tiverton and Honiton 
			 Newquay 30 June 200l North Cornwall 
			 Southampton (Commercial Road) 31 August 2001 Southampton Itchen 
			 Womborne 1 September 2001 Staffordshire South 
			 Gillingham 30 September 2001 North Dorset 
			 Bridlington 9 November 200l East Yorkshire 
			 Brough 9 November 2001 Haltem 
			 Driffield 9 November 2001 East Yorkshire 
			 Hull (Guildhall) 9 November 2001 Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle 
			 Hull (Lowgate) 9 November 2001 Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle 
			 Pocklington 9 November 2001 East Yorkshire 
			 Withernsea 9 November 2001 Beverley and Holderness 
			 Arundel 1 December 2001 Arundel and South Downs 
			
			 Magistrates courthouse closures in 2002  
			 Bridgenorth 31 January 2002 Ludlow 
			 Leominster 31 January 2002 Leominster 
			 Fakenham 1 May 2002 North Suffolk 
			 Tunbridge Wells 2 June 2002 Tunbridge Wells 
			 Beaconsfield 1 July 2002 Beaconsfield 
			 Buckingham 1 July 2002 Buckingham 
			 Evesham 30 November 2002 Mid Worcestershire 
			
			 Magistrates courthouse closures in 2003  
			 Thame 31 January 2003 Henley 
			 Droitwich 21 March 2003 Mid Worcestershire 
			 Machynllech 31 March 2003 Meirionnydd Nant Conwy 
			 Chester Le Street 31 March 2003 North Durham 
			 Rugeley 31 May 2003 Cannock Chase 
			 Lampeter 9 June 2003 Ceredigion 
			 Tenby 30 June 2003 Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire 
			 Camberley 30 June 2003 Surrey Heath 
			 Trowbridge 30 September 2003 Westbury 
			 Whitchurch 3 October 2003 North Shropshire 
			 Long Sutton 31 October 2003 South Holland and the Deepings 
			 Caistor 31 December 2003 Gainsborough 
			 Horncastle 31 December 2003 Louth and Horncastle 
			
			 Magistrates courthouse closures in 2004  
			 Richmond 31 March 2004 Richmond (Yorks) 
			 Stourbridge 23 June 2004 Stourbridge

Magistrates Courts (Running Costs)

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  what the average running costs per day are of (a) the Community Justice Centre in Liverpool and (b) an average magistrates court;
	(2)  what steps she is taking to evaluate the cost-benefit of the Community Justice Centre in Liverpool.

Harriet Harman: The information is as follows:
	The Community Justice Centre will not be fully operational until September. The court is currently hearing cases in a courtroom of Liverpool magistrates court and the daily running costs are approximately the same as for the other courtrooms. The average cost of a magistrate's courthouse per day is £4,382 and a courtroom is £111 (figures for 2003–04). The cost of providing the multi agency problem solving team is £666per day. The cost of this team is not currently borne by a mainstream magistrates court, as the function is performed to some extent elsewhere and is accounted for by the CJS agencies (eg Probation, YOTs).
	The evaluation will compare the resources that are being used in the existing CJS agencies dealing with one courtroom with the cost of those based within the centre. The effectiveness of the existing CJS agencies framework against the joint approach of the centre will be measured in their outcomes. An example of this would be a reduction in antisocial behaviour or the number of young people getting involved in crime. The evaluation will also measure qualitative benefits such as the level of victim and witness satisfaction.

Marked Registers

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  by what date Pickfords is expected to fulfil all orders received to date with regards to marked registers from the 2005 general election;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on the time taken by Pickfords to publish the marked registers from the 2005 general election.

Harriet Harman: We have been informed by Pickfords Records Management that there are currently 444 requests outstanding for copies of the Marked Register. All of these have received holding letters and are currently being counted for charge letters to be sent out. 78 copies of the Marked Register have been completed and sent out.
	Because in a number of cases the documents have not been presented to Pickfords in accordance with instructions, Pickfords have had to conduct searches and checks and contact Returning Officers to find them, which has had an impact on their process times and resources.
	All the remaining counting and charge letters are expected to be sent out within the next three weeks.

Marked Registers

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will publish the service-level agreement between the Government and Pickfords in relation to the provision of marked registers.

Harriet Harman: The service level agreement between the Government and Pickfords is expressed within the terms of the contract specification. An application can be made to my Department to view the relevant sections of the contract specification.
	In addition, a Decision Report of the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery as to the public access to the marked registers and other documents returned after the 2005 general election will shortly be available from the House of Commons Library.

Marked Registers

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will publish marked registers from the 2005 general election electronically.

Harriet Harman: Access to the marked electoral registers is the responsibility of the Clerk of the Crown. The marked register which is made available for inspection or copying is the paper copy of the register kept at the polling station, and marked by polling station staff. No electronic copies are compiled, and we have no current plans to provide for it. Paper copies may be purchased, as has been the case in previous elections.

Remote Electronic Voting

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what research the Government have conducted on remote electronic voting.

Harriet Harman: The research into remote electronic voting is primarily conducted through pilots under S.10 of the Representation of the People Act 2000. There have been 27 e-voting pilots in 2002 and 2003 and these were all evaluated by The Electoral Commission which reported on each of the pilots and also published a strategic evaluation.
	In addition to piloting, research has been jointly commissioned by the Government and key stakeholders investigating the issues surrounding the implementation of electronic voting in the UK. This research was published in May 2002.
	As part of the work being done on electoral modernisation there is on-going consideration of e-voting technologies used worldwide and their performance in pilots and elections.

Remote Electronic Voting

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans her Department has to conduct remote electronic voting pilots in the 2006 local elections.

Harriet Harman: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 7 June 2005, Official Report, column 483W. We are considering the options for electronic voting pilots in 2006.

Voter Registration

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will estimate the number of hours spent by officials in her Department in dealing with (a) postal ballot fraud and (b) voter under-registration in the last 12 months.

Harriet Harman: Detailed information of hours spent by officials on specific areas of work is not kept. However officials in my Department spent a significant amount of time on issues relating to postal vote fraud including responding to press allegations and subsequent letters from interested parties over the course of the combined European parliamentary and local elections in June 2004 and in the run up to this year's general election.
	Voter under-registration has also been looked at by officials through policy development and research but has taken up less time that that spent on responding to postal vote fraud.

PRIME MINISTER

Antisocial Behaviour Committee

Graham Allen: To ask the Prime Minister what steps he is taking to invite ideas from hon. Members for consideration by the Ministerial Committee on antisocial behaviour of the Cabinet; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: We are always receptive to hearing the views of hon. Members on how to tackle antisocial behaviour. An inter-departmental steering group has been set up and is chaired by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Home Office (Hazel Blears). It will support the Ministerial Committee on antisocial behaviour that I chair. The steering group will consider how it takes on ideas and proposals from hon. Members.

Business Representatives

Michael Meacher: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the business representatives with whom he has had meetings (a) at Number 10, (b) within Parliament, (c) at Chequers and (d) elsewhere since 1 January; which organisation they represented in each case; andwhat the main topic for discussion at each meeting was.

Tony Blair: I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals on a wide range of subjects. Information relating to internal meetings, discussion and advice is not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

Conferences

David Davies: To ask the Prime Minister how much his Office has spent on (a) organising and (b) sponsoring conferences in each of the last five years.

Tony Blair: For accounting purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. The information requested cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.

Gender Equality (Africa)

Andrew George: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he had during the Gleneagles Summit regarding the Millennium Development Goal to promote gender equality in Africa.

Tony Blair: At Gleneagles, G8 heads agreed a doubling of resource for Africa, in order to help make faster progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. On the gender equality goal, the need for urgent action is particularly stark.
	We agreed to support African governments in ensuring that, by 2015, all children have access to and complete free and compulsory education of good quality. We also called on African countries to implement the African Charter on Human and People's Rights and its protocols, in order to encourage respect for the rights of ethnic minorities, women and children.

Lords Lieutenants

David Amess: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the lords lieutenant with the dates of their (a) appointment and (b) expected retirement.

Tony Blair: A list of Lord Lieutenants, individual dates of appointment and expected retirement has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Deputy Lords Lieutenants

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the Deputy Lords Lieutenants; on what date each was appointed; and whether each is recorded as supporting a political party.

Tony Blair: A list of Deputy Lieutenants, where available, has been placed in the Libraries of the House. Dates of their appointment, and information on membership of political parties, are not held centrally. Deputy Lieutenants are, of course, aware that their role is essentially non-political and impartial.

Marine Environment

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister how many representations he has received from members of the public in support of greater protection for the marine environment; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: The information is not available in the format requested. Given the volume of correspondence I receive covering a broad spectrum of issues, my office records letters by subject rather than by the view expressed.
	Since 1997 I have received over 20,000 representations on the environment, including over 1,000 campaign cards on a future for our seas?" in 2004.

Public Appointments Commissioner

Paul Flynn: To ask the Prime Minister if he will ask the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments if he will investigate whether the words used by the Chair of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency regarding Seroxat published in the New Statesman on 20 June were consistent with the standards laid down for holders of a public appointment.

Jane Kennedy: I have been asked to reply.
	The Commission for Public Appointments has no remit to investigate the conduct of the Chair of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA is an Executive Agency of the Department of Health and its Chair is appointed by the Secretary of State for Health.
	There is nothing in the quote from the Chair of the MHRA that would merit any such investigation.

Second World War Anniversary

David Amess: To ask the Prime Minister whether he was present in an official capacity at ceremonies to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: Yes. I attended the National Commemoration Day on Sunday 10 July 2005.

Sickness Absence

David Davies: To ask the Prime Minister how many days his Office has lost due to sickness in the past five years for which figures are available.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the Cabinet Office report Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service", copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

DEFENCE

Anthrax Vaccination

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the US Administration and its agencies on illnesses suffered by Service personnel and their families which they attribute to anthrax vaccinations.

Don Touhig: The Ministry of Defence has not held any formal discussions with the US Administration or its agencies on this subject and all information from the US on such matters has been drawn from published sources.

Armed Forces (Sexual Assaults)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of sexual assaults in the armed forces.

Don Touhig: Service training and instructions emphasise the vital importance within a disciplined force of mutual trust and respect, and of strict compliance with the law. All offences are investigated by the Service or civil police who will take the appropriate action.
	The theme of respect for the individual is central to our Diversity Strategy, which states that we expect every one of our people to fulfil their personal responsibilities, one of which is to ensure that they do not harass, bully, abuse, alarm or distress others. Intimidation, humiliation, bullying or abuse will not be tolerated. Unified procedures for dealing with complaints of harassment and bullying were introduced on 1 April. On 23 June, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence signed an agreement with the Equal Opportunities Commission based upon an action plan to confront sexual harassment in the armed forces.

BAE Systems

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much current work has been placed by his Department with BAE Systems, broken down by site.

Adam Ingram: The information requested is not held centrally and would be available only at disproportionate cost. However, the table sets out information from the Defence Bills Agency's database covering the total value of current contracts with BAE Systems as at 29 June 2005. This information is based on invoicing addresses and does not necessarily reflect the locations where the actual work is taking place. It does not include subsidiary companies with other trading names.
	
		
			 Contractor Location Value (£) 
		
		
			 BAE Systems Properties Ltd. Aylesbury 5,596,914 
			 BAE Systems Marine Ltd. Barrow-in-Furness 2,626,381,745 
			 BAE Systems Electronics Ltd. Basildon 27,430,002 
			 BAE Systems Electronics Ltd. Basildon 10,159,739 
			 BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies Ltd. Chelmsford 799,632,786 
			 BAE Systems (Defence Systems) Ltd. Christchurch 103,795,511 
			 BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies Ltd. Cowes 55,977,410 
			 BAE Systems (Combat and Radar Systems) Ltd. Cowes 3,613,000 
			 BAE Systems (Defence Systems) Ltd. Cowes 208,743 
			 BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies Ltd. Dorchester 3,220,232 
			 BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd. Edinburgh 35,102 
			 BAE Systems Land Systems (Bridging) Ltd. Ettingshall 30,538,356 
			 BAE Systems Electronics Ltd. Farnborough 2,990,318,520 
			 BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd. Filton 120,448,174 
			 BAE Systems Electronics Filton 24,515,904 
			 BAE Systems (Hawk Synthetic Training) Ltd. Filton 22,883,057 
			 BAE Systems (Land and Sea Systems Ltd.) Filton 126,954 
			 BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies Ltd. Frimley 760,711,348 
			 BAE Systems Land Systems (Munitions and Ordnance) Ltd. Glascoed USK 1,668,286,493 
			 BAE Systems Land Systems (Munitions and Ordnance) Ltd. Glascoed USK 297,021 
			 BAE Systems Marine Ltd. Glasgow 148,751,291 
			 BAE Systems Marine (YSL) Ltd. Glasgow 10,216,840 
			 BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd. Glasgow Broomielaw 220,000 
			 BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd. Glasgow Prestwick Airport 8,434,881 
			 BAE Systems Regional Aircraft Ltd. Glasgow Prestwick Airport 953,556 
			 BAE Systems (Operations Ltd. Great Baddow 4,160,360 
			 BAE Systems Electronics Ltd. Great Baddow 100,125 
			 BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd. Greengage Middleton 104,117,236 
			 BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies Ltd. Hillend 971,632 
			 BAE Systems Electronics Ltd. Leicester 140,110,002 
			 BAE Systems Marine Ltd. Leicester 7,504,391 
			 BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies Ltd. New Malden 37,176,063 
			 BAE Systems (Land and Sea Systems Ltd.) New Malden 52,575,637 
			 BAE Systems Land Systems (Weapons and Vehicles) Ltd. Newcastle-upon-Tyne 2,178,571,994 
			 BAE Systems (Systems and Equipment Ltd. Plymouth 27,474,715 
			 BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd. Plymouth 21,478,299 
			 BAE Systems PLC Plymouth 9,496,485 
			 BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd. Portsmouth 82,375,486 
			 BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies Ltd. Portsmouth 14,244,242 
			 BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd. Portsmouth-HM Naval Base 191,905 
			 BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd. Rochester 184,203,275 
			 BAE Systems Electronics Ltd. Rochester 35,000 
			 BAE Systems (Land and Sea Systems Ltd.) Scotstoun 3,280,660 
			 BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd. Scotstoun 1,406,077 
			 BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd. Stevenage 6,000 
			 BAE Systems Land Systems (Weapons and Vehicles) Ltd. Telford 265,067,039 
			 BAE Systems/Rockwell Collins Data Link Solutions LLC USA: Iowa 1,923,079 
			 BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc. USA: NASHUA NH 1,388,058 
			 BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd. Waddington 18,491,313 
			 BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd. Warton 6,087,957,092 
			 BAE Systems PLC Warton 710,245,430 
			 BAE Systems Defence Ltd. Warton 505,177,155 
			 BAE Systems Electronics Ltd. Waterlooville 2,804,033,669 
			 BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd. Weymouth 100,000

Commonwealth War Graves (Equatorial Guinea)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the upkeep of the Commonwealth war graves in Equatorial Guinea.

Don Touhig: There are 10 Commonwealth war graves in Equatorial Guinea, all in Malabo cemetery, which is situated on the island of Bioko off the coast of Cameroon. All are Commonwealth airmen from the second world war who are commemorated together in a row marked by Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) headstones.
	These graves are visited periodically by CWGC staff from the United Kingdom. The last such visit was in 2003, when some maintenance was carried out with the assistance of the cemetery staff. The Commission has confirmed that the graves are well maintained for this part of the world. It is in the process of setting up an arrangement for more regular visits and reports from its honorary supervisor in the Cameroon.

Construction Projects

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to train armed forces personnel to carry out construction projects for the armed forces.

Don Touhig: The armed forces already employs and trains engineering specialists in order to enhance operational effectiveness. These specialists are primarily employed to provide engineering and construction support on deployed operations where the operational conditions would preclude the use of commercial operators. It is possible that these engineers may be employed on construction projects for the armed forces, for instance in the UK, but only when it is sensible and cost-effective to do so and the training experience accrued will directly benefit their role on operations. Otherwise, the skills and expertise of the commercial sector is employed, allowing the armed forces to concentrate on military tasks.

Corporate Branding (Costs)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what costs were incurred by the (a) Medical Supplies Agency and (b) Warship Supply Agency in (i)corporate branding and (ii) external consultants used in set-up and continuing activities.

Adam Ingram: A detailed breakdown of costs incurred by the Warship Support Agency (WSA) both during set-up and through-life, on corporate branding and external consultants, specifically in support of its agency status, is not held separately and cannot therefore be provided. External consultants were used prior to Agency formation to help determine the structure and working methods of the WSA Strategic and Executive Boards. The cost of these activities is not available; however, it is likely to have been minimal.
	A detailed breakdown of costs incurred by the Medical Supplies Agency (MSA) both during set-up and through-life, on corporate branding, specifically in support of its agency status, is not held separately and cannot therefore be provided. Figures relating to the establishment of the Agency (in 1996) on external consultants are no longer available, due to the requirement to only retain historical financial accounts for seven years. However, external consultant figures relating to the MSA change programme, from financial year 1997–98 are provided in the table.
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 1997–98 15 
			 1998–99 16 
			 1999–2000 17 
			 2000–01 18 
			 2001–02 147 
			 2002–03 220 
			 2003–04 358.5 
			 2004–05 416.3 
		
	
	Payments during 2003–04 and 2004–05 were in respect of the medical supplies change programme, the benefit of which has been carried forward into the Medical Supplies Integrated Project Team.

Darfur

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2005, Official Report, columns 332–33W, on Darfur, whether (a) NATO and (b) the EU will be in overall command of support for the African Union in its mission in Darfur.

John Reid: The African Union is leading the operation and managing offers of assistance. NATO and the EU continue to work closely together to coordinate their military offers. Neither has any operational command and control role.

Defence Export Services Organisation

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions between April 2004 and December 2004 British-based staff from the Defence Export Services Organisation met BAE Systems to discuss the selection of agents.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 14 July 2005
	We have found no record of any meeting in the United Kingdom between Defence Export Services Organisation officials and representatives of BAE Systems specifically concerned with the selection of agents. The subject will on occasion have been discussed, however, in the course of routine meetings covering a wider range of normal business.

Defence Export Services Organisation

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2005, Official Report, column, 259W, on the Defence Export Service Organisation (DESO), whether BAE Systems has requested information from DESO on the selection of agents.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 14 July 2005
	Instances of questions from companies, including BAE Systems, on the selection of agents are not centrally recorded. Such advice is given in the course of normal Defence Export Services Organisation business, both in the United Kingdom and overseas.

Defence Training Review

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what stage has been reached by the Defence Training Review; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: The Defence Training Review Programme issued Invitations to Negotiate to the short listed bidding Consortia in November 2004. The Ministry of Defence continues to work closely with the three bidders and stakeholders to ensure that industry develop training and estates proposals that are compliant, value for money, deliver betterment and preserve operational capability and military ethos. In parallel the MOD also continues to maintain a close dialogue with the trade unions updating them on progress. Bidders' proposals are due in October and November 2005. Evaluation of the proposals will follow immediately and conclude in spring 2006. The outcome will inform the decision on selection of a preferred bidder, which is due to be approved later in the summer in 2006.

Departmental Staff

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many full-time equivalents have worked for the Department for each of the last five financial years for which figures are available.

Don Touhig: The number of full-time equivalents (FTE) that have worked for the Department is shown in the following table. The numbers reflect the total number of permanent and casual staff together with the Royal Fleet Auxiliaries, trading funds and locally engaged civilians.
	
		Civilian personnel numbers at 1 April each year -- Thousand: FTE
		
			 Civilians(4) Total 
		
		
			 2001(5) 118.2 
			 2002 110.1 
			 2003 107.6 
			 2004 109.0 
			 2005 108.5 
		
	
	(4)This table uses the revised definition of civilian personnel (see www.dasa.mod.uk for details).
	(5)In 2001 the QinetiQ portion of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (approximately 8,000 FTE) was established as a private company.

Establishments (Muslims)

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total establishment is of (a) the Royal Navy, (b) the Army and (c) the Royal Air Force; and how many Muslims are serving in each.

Don Touhig: The following table shows the strength of UK armed forces at 1 June 2005:
	
		
			  Total strength Muslim strength 
		
		
			 (a) Naval service 39,780 20 
			 (b) Army 108,300 220 
			 (c) RAF 51,380 70 
		
	
	UK regular forces includes nursing services and excludes full-time reserve service personnel, Ghurkhas, the home service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists. They include both trained and untrained personnel.
	All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 to prevent disclosure of sensitive personal data. When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in five have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.

EUFOR

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what UK military assets are deployed as part of EUFOR; and by what command and control arrangements they are managed.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom has around 872 troops deployed as part of the European Union peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Operation ALTHEA. This includes Major-General Leakey, who is currently the force commander for this operation; and also those UK officers serving in the force headquarters. The bulk of the UK contingent is based in Multi-National Task Force (North-West), and is currently centred on the 1st Battalion The Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders.
	Operation ALTHEA operates under the political control and strategic direction of the EU. The force commander reports to the operation commander, General Sir John Reith, who also holds the NATO position of Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe. He in turn reports to the EU Political and Security Committee, which takes direction from the Council of the European Union and advice from the EU Military Committee. All these bodies are made up of member state representatives and take decisions by unanimity.
	In both EU and NATO operations the UK assigns troops to EU or NATO Operational control, but the UK ultimately retains command of all UK troops and assets involved in operations.

Fijian Nationals

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Fijian nationals are serving in Her Majesty's forces.

Adam Ingram: The following table shows the Fijian strength of UK armed forces at 1 June 2005:
	
		
			  Fijian total 
		
		
			 Naval Service 70 
			 Army 1,950 
			 RAF — 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.UK Regular Forces includes Nursing services and excludes Full Time Reserve Service personnel, Gurkhas, the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised Reservists. They include both trained and untrained personnel.
	2.All data is obtained from a nationality field on the Armed Forces Personnel Record of Service. Figures represent those with a current nationality of 'Fijian'.
	3.RAF nationality data is not held centrally.
	4.All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 to prevent disclosure of sensitive personal data. When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in five have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.

Forces' Recruitment

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from which (a) region and (b) county the highest percentage of personnel were recruited to the (i) Army, (ii) Royal Navy, (iii) Royal Air Force and (iv) Royal Marines in 2004–05.

Don Touhig: Recruiting data by region and county are not available centrally. The following estimates of enlistments for the financial year 2004–05 have been provided by the three services.
	
		Navy enlistment numbers for financial year 2004–05
		
			 Region Enlistments 
		
		
			 North East 610 
			 North West 740 
			 East Central 300 
			 West Central 240 
			 South West 620 
			 South East 350 
			 London 200 
			 Wales 180 
			 Scotland 380 
			 Northern Ireland 60 
		
	
	Source:
	Directorate of Naval Recruiting
	
		Army enlistment numbers for financial year 2004–05
		
			 Region Enlistments 
		
		
			 North East 1,720 
			 North West 1,540 
			 East 1,360 
			 West Midlands 1,000 
			 Wessex 780 
			 Home Counties 470 
			 South East 430 
			 London 880 
			 Wales 670 
			 Scotland 1,140 
			 Northern Ireland 260 
			 Commonwealth 220 
		
	
	Source:
	Army Recruiting Group
	
		RAF enlistment numbers for financial year 2004–05
		
			 Region Enlistments 
		
		
			 North East 330 
			 North West and North Wales 350 
			 East Midlands 380 
			 West Midlands and South Wales 290 
			 London and South East 200 
			 South West 230 
			 Wales 140 
			 Scotland 220 
			 Northern Ireland 50 
		
	
	Notes:
	Figures are based on location of armed forces careers office to which applicant applied not residence of applicant. Armed forces careers office regions do not align with Government office regions and differ between services; consequently, it is not possible to make meaningful comparisons across services or to population figures.
	All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Due to the rounding methods used, figures may not always equal the sum of the parts. When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in five have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.
	Army selection figures for London includes recruitment from Herford, Germany.
	Source:
	RAF Recruiting Services

Future Aircraft Carriers

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on the in-service dates of each of the future aircraft carriers if France participates in their construction on the basis (a) that two carriers are built for the United Kingdom and one for France and (b) that two carriers are built for the UK alone.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 13 July 2005
	None. Though we continue to investigate the potential for co-operation with France on our respective carrier projects, it will be for industry to put forward proposals on French participation in the construction of the future aircraft carriers (CVF). These will be judged on their merits and in light of national policies.

Future Aircraft Carriers

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the decision was taken to reclassify the 2012 and 2015 in-service dates for the two future aircraft carriers as target dates.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 13 July 2005
	As with all projects in the assessment phase, in-service dates (ISDs) are not fixed until the main investment decision. The assessment phase is used to refine the timescale for projects including the future aircraft carrier (CVF).

Future Rapid Effects System

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated whole life cost is of the FRES vehicles ordered by the Department.

Adam Ingram: The FRES programme is currently in the assessment phase and it is therefore too early in the programme to have placed orders for FRES vehicles.
	Studies being conducted during the assessment phase are aimed at developing a series of options for meeting the requirement and the outcome of these studies will enable us to formulate reliable whole life cost estimates.

Identity Cards

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of equipping premises for which his Department has responsibility with identity card readers.

Don Touhig: We have been working with the Home Office to identify areas where the identity cards scheme could provide business benefits. Our assessment has indicated that the proposal for the introduction of identity cards would benefit the Ministry of Defence by aiding the identification of individuals who have a relationship with the Department, but are not direct employees. Examples include potential new recruits, past employees, members of the reserve forces, job applicants, visitors and contractors. On 28 June 2005, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary placed in the Library of the House a paper containing the latest estimates of benefits of the identity cards scheme which shows that the benefits outweigh the costs once the scheme is fully operational. The cost of equipping premises will depend on the nature of the use of the identity cards scheme and the type of identity check(s) necessary to deliver the business benefits. The Ministry of Defence is in dialogue with the Home Office and we will judge the impact on our IT systems as details of the scheme emerge. As the design of the scheme matures, during and after the procurement exercise, so will our understanding of where the scheme will be of most benefit which will allow us to further refine our estimates of costs and benefits.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many persons arrested in Iraq by UK forces have been transferred to the custody of the United States.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 13 June 2005
	Following the end of hostilities in Iraq and the completion of the UK's prisoner release programme, a total of 358 prisoners taken into custody by the UK, for whom the UK remained responsible, were transferred to US custody at Camp Bucca. Between June 2003 and the opening of the UK's Divisional Temporary Detention Facility in December 2003, further individuals taken into custody by the UK were also transferred to US custody. All of these internees were either released, or transferred back to UK custody in December 2003.
	Two individuals classified as High Value Targets were taken into custody by the UK and subsequently transferred to US custody. They were later transferred to the jurisdiction of the Iraq Special Tribunal, although they remain in US custody.
	Four additional internees taken into custody by the UK during 2003 were transferred to the US and held at Abu Ghraib. All have since been released. During the Black Watch deployment to North Babil in November 2003, a further 12 internees were taken into custody by the UK, and transferred to the US. All but two were quickly released. The remaining two are held at Abu Ghraib.

Iraq

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) detainees, (b) internees and (c) other prisoners in Iraq were (i) held by UK forces, (ii) brought into UK custody and (iii) transferred fromUK to US custody in each week since 1 December 2003.

Adam Ingram: Prior to December 2003, all persons taken into custody by United Kingdom forces were held by the US at Camp Bucca, in southern Iraq. During December those internees were transferred to the UK's divisional temporary detention facility (DTDF) at Shaibah logistics base in southern Iraq, and the figures given from January 2004 onwards refer to internees held at that location. However, during December, internees taken into custody by the UK may have spent a short period in Camp Bucca prior to transfer to the DTDF on or around 18 December 2003. From January 2004 to the present day, the only internees transferred to US custody were those taken during the course of the deployment of the Black Watch Battlegroup in November 2004. Two internees were transferred on 16 November 2004 and 10 were transferred on 26 November 2004. These internees are not included in the following information.
	
		
			 Date Internees held Internees taken into custody by UK 
		
		
			 As at 1 December 2003 (6)109 — 
			 Week ending:   
			 8 December 2003 (6)111 14 
			 15 December 2003 (6)110 14 
			 22 December 2003 112 2 
			 27 December 2003 140 41 
			 5 January 2004 135 11 
			 12 January 2004 126 1 
			 19 January 2004 124 2 
			 26 January 2004 109 5 
			 2 February 2004 106 15 
			 9 February 2004 l05 1 
			 16 February 2004 103 5 
			 23 February 2004 108 9 
			 1 March 2004 95 4 
			 8 March 2004 93 0 
			 15 March 2004 84 4 
			 22 March 2004 81 3 
			 29 March 2004 79 2 
			 5 April 2004 82 5 
			 13 April 2004 l02 22 
			 19 April 2004 101 0 
			 25 April 2004 98 7 
			 2 May 2004 118 27 
			 9 May 2004 117 3 
			 16 May 2004 135 23 
			 23 May 2004 125 8 
			 30 May 2004 107 5 
			 7 June 2004 79 0 
			 14 June 2004 68 14 
			 20 June 2004 73 10 
			 28 June 2004 55 1 
			 5 July 2004 40 0 
			 12 July 2004 25 0 
			 19 July 2004 25 0 
			 26 July 2004 26 3 
			 2 August 2004 21 0 
			 9 August 2004 25 4 
			 16 August 2004 25 0 
			 23 August 2004 27 2 
			 30 August 2004 25 0 
			 6 September 2004 22 1 
			 13 September 2004 26 8 
			 20 September 2004 28 2 
			 27 September 2004 14 0 
			 4 October 2004 9 0 
			 11 October 2004 10 1 
			 18 October 2004 9 0 
			 25 October 2004 9 0 
			 1 November 2004 7 0 
			 8 November 2004 7 0 
			 15 November 2004 10 3 
			 22 November 2004 10 0 
			 29 November 2004 10 0 
			 6 December 2004 18 8 
			 13 December 2004 24 8 
			 20 December 2004 24 0 
			 27 December 2004 23 0 
			 3 January 2005 23 0 
			 10 January 2005 25 2 
			 17 January 2005 31 6 
			 24 January 2005 29 0 
			 31 January 2005 30 3 
			 7 February 2005 33 3 
			 14 February 2005 31 0 
			 21 February 2005 29 0 
			 28 February 2005 27 0 
			 7 March 2005 27 0 
			 14 March 2005 27 0 
			 21 March 2005 27 0 
			 28 March 2005 24 0 
			 4 April 2005 23 0 
			 11 April 2005 23 0 
			 18 April 2005 21 0 
			 25 April 2005 21 0 
			 1 May 2005 21 0 
			 8 May 2005 21 0 
			 15 May 2005 21 0 
			 22 May 2005 22 1 
			 29 May 2005 21 0 
			 5 June 2005 21 0 
			 12 June 2005 24 3 
			 19 June 2005 24 0 
			 26 June 2005 24 0 
			 3 July 2005 24 0 
			 l0 July 2005 24 0 
		
	
	(6)In US custody.
	These figures are based on the best available data; it is evident that some theatre records contain inaccuracies.

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what RAF aircraft participated in attacks by coalition aircraft on (a) an anti-ship missile system near Basra on 6 September 2002, (b) an anti-ship missile system near Basra on 13 January 2003, (c) a surface-to-surface missile system near Basra on 11 February 2003, (d) elements of surface-to-surface missile systems near Basra on 12 February 2003, (e) a mobile multiple-rocket system near Basra on 18 February 2003, (f) a surface-to-surface missile system near Basra on 25 February 2003 and (g) three surface-to-surface missile systems south of Mosul on 25 February 2003.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 14 July 2005
	On the 11 February 2003, RAF Tornado GR4s dropped a total of five munitions during the course of the attack. The attack was conducted in self-defence in accordance with the appropriate rules of engagement for Operation Resinate (south), the operation to enforce the southern no-fly zone. The surface-to-surface missile system concerned had recently relocated to a position close to the Kuwaiti border, from which it posed a direct threat to the operating base for UK aircraft and other forces allocated to Operation Resinate (south).
	No RAF aircraft were used in any of the other attacks mentioned.

Maritime Forces

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the decision to reduce resource allocations to maritime forces has not previously been reported to Parliament.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 7 July 2005
	The Royal Navy is expected to be able to fulfil its operational commitments during the current period of focussing logistic support on those ships undertaking high priority tasks or being held at high readiness for operations. Determining the most efficient and effective use of available resources is a routine element of departmental planning, and specific decisions are not normally the subject of special notification to the House.

Mothballed Defence Bases

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defenceif he will list his Department's bases which are mothballed.

Don Touhig: It is not the policy of the Ministry of Defence to 'mothball' sites against undefined future defence uses. The only exception would be in the case ofArmy Barracks, where a site might be vacant for a few months as a result of unit rotations to overseas locations. There are currently no sites in this category.
	All possible alternate defence requirements will be considered for a site before it is declared surplus. Once declared surplus a site will be disposed of as quickly as possible to ensure it is bought back into productive use at the earliest opportunity.
	Where disposal is anticipated to take some time, buildings may be wind and weatherproofed to minimise deterioration. It is also our policy, where possible, to encourage temporary commercial use of vacant sites pending disposal.

Northern Ireland

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Army personnel were stationed in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 November 2001, Official Report, columns 955–56W, to the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne). The number of armed forces personnel (Army, Navy and Air Force) stationed in Northern Ireland since then is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 As at 31 October Number of troops 
		
		
			 2002 13,810 
			 2003 12,534 
			 2004 11,047 
			 2005(7) 10,154 
		
	
	(7)The figure for 2005 is taken as at 30 June.
	The General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland (GOC NI) also has under his command troops that are rear based in Great Britain that can be called forward to the Province as and when required. In addition, other troops can be made available to the GOC NI from LandCommand if required, for example during the marching season.

Regimental Strength

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the strength is of each regiment in the Army; and what percentage this is of the full establishment in each case.

Don Touhig: The following table shows the strengths and establishments of the full-time trained Army by arm/service and strengths of the individual infantry regiments.
	Establishments of each infantry and armoured corps regiment have not been provided because they are not defined individually.
	
		Full-time trained strength of the Army (including full-time reserve service (FTRS)) as at 1 June 2005 compared to the liability
		
			 Arm/service Establishment Strength Percentage of establishment 
		
		
			 Staff 830 830 100 
			 The Household Cavalry/Royal Armoured Corps 5,300 5,670 107 
			 Royal Regiment of Artillery 7,580 7,510 99 
			 Corps of Royal Engineers 10,020 8,870 88 
			 Royal Corps of Signals 8,580 8,780 102 
			 The Infantry 24,420 25,090 103 
			 Of which
			 Grenadier Guards (8)— 770 (8)— 
			 Coldstream Guards (8)— 780 (8)— 
			 Scots Guards (8)— 720 (8)— 
			 Irish Guards (8)— 630 (8)— 
			 Welsh Guards (8)— 600 (8)— 
			 Royal Scots (8)— 580 (8)— 
			 Royal Highland Fusiliers (8)— 600 (8)— 
			 Kings Own Scottish Borderers (8)— 580 (8)— 
			 Black Watch (8)— 660 (8)— 
			 Highlanders (8)— 610 (8)— 
			 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (8)— 590 (8)— 
			 Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (8)— 1,330 (8)— 
			 Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (8)— 1,300 (8)— 
			 Royal Anglian Regiment (8)— 1,320 (8)— 
			 Kings Own Royal Border Regiment (8)— 620 (8)— 
			 King's Regiment (8)— 600 (8)— 
			 1 Prince of Wales' Own Regiment (8)— 660 (8)— 
			 Green Howards (8)— 620 (8)— 
			 Queen's Lancashire Regiment (8)— 660 (8)— 
			 Duke of Wallington's Regiment (8)— 670 (8)— 
			 Devonshire and Dorset Regiment (8)— 620 (8)— 
			 Cheshire Regiment (8)— 580 (8)— 
			 Royal Welch Fusiliers (8)— 660 (8)— 
			 Royal Regiment of Wales (8)— 590 (8)— 
			 Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment (8)— 640 (8)— 
			 Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (8)— 620 (8)— 
			 Staffordshire Regiment (8)— 610 (8)— 
			 The Light Infantry Regiment (8)— 1,320 (8)— 
			 Royal Green Jackets (8)— 1,290 (8)— 
			 The Parachute Regiment (8)— 2,080 (8)— 
			 The Royal Irish Regiment (General Service) (8)— 660 (8)— 
			 Others (8)— 530 (8)— 
			 
			 Army Air Corps 2,160 1,930 89 
			 Royal Army Chaplains Department 160 140 87 
			 The Royal Logistics Corps 16,390 15,570 96 
			 Royal Army Medical Corps 3,280 2,780 86 
			 Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 9,580 9,760 102 
			 Adjutant General's Corps (Provost Branch) 2,020 2,020 100 
			 Adjutant General's Corps (Staff and Personnel Support Branch) 4,400 4,570 104 
			 Adjutant General's Corps (Educational and Training Services Branch) 330 340 103 
			 Adjutant General's Corps (Army Legal Service) 120 90 72 
			 Royal Army Veterinary Corps 200 190 94 
			 Small Arms School Corps 160 150 97 
			 Royal Army Dental Corps 440 370 84 
			 Intelligence Corps 1,840 1,430 78 
			 Army Physical Training Corps 440 430 98 
			 General Service Corps (8)— (8)— (8)— 
			 Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps 1,100 820 74 
			 Corps of Army Music 920 980 106 
			 Long Service List 480 610 127 
			 Unallocated (8)— 10 (8)— 
			 Total trained regular Army and FTRS 100,770 98,940 98 
			 Ghurkhas 3,400 3,320 98 
			 Full-time trained Army 104,170 102,260 98 
		
	
	(8)Denotes zero or rounded to zero.
	Notes:
	FTRS figures include full, limited and home commitment.
	Figures exclude home service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment, Mobilised Reserves, Territorial Army and other reserves.
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

Regimental Uniforms/Mascots

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who meets the cost of the new uniforms and mess-dress of existing personnel up to the date of changeover for the future (a) Mercia, (b) Yorkshire and (c) Scottish regiments.

Don Touhig: pursuant to the reply, 24 May 2005, Official Report, c.56W
	I am now clarifying the information provided.
	The answer I gave stated that officers received a tax-free allowance to enable them to maintain their uniform and dress. It has now come to my attention that officers in fact receive an annual tax-credit, known as income tax relief for maintenance of uniform", rather than an allowance as such. This means that a certain proportion of their salary is not subject to income tax. For dismounted male officers below the rank of colonel, and therefore all personnel belonging to those regiments identified in your original question, this annual rate amounts to £589.29 of earnings against which income tax is not paid.

Regimental Uniforms/Mascots

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the mascot of the (a) Queen's Lancashire Regiment and (b) King's Own Borderers is; and what the value of silverware held by each regiment is.

Don Touhig: Neither the Queen's Lancashire Regiment or the King's Own Royal Border Regiment have a mascot.
	The silverware of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment and the King's Own Royal Border Regiment belongs to the regiments themselves. The funding for the purchase, maintenance and insurance of the silverware comes from non-public funds and is therefore a private matter for the trustees of the regiments.

Small Arms Sales

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion by value of sales of arms by UK companies were identified as small arms in the latest year for which figures are available; and what proportion were sold to developing countries.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls, which contain information on the Government's export licensing decisions. Since 2000, these reports have specified the number of items of military equipment in the UN Register of Conventional Arms categories, and also the number of small arms, covered by individual licences in the reporting period. The annual reports are available from the Libraries of the House. The Export Control Organisation does not however hold information on actual exports.

TA/Cadet Forces

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the reserve forces in Hemel Hempstead constituency.

Don Touhig: There are no current plans to make any changes to the Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Auxiliary Air Force units located near to Hemel Hempstead. A study is currently in hand which seeks to rebalance the Territorial Army so that it is aligned with changes to the Regular Army under the Future Army Structure work. This is a nationwide study that is not due to report until later in the year and it would be inappropriate to speculate on the outcome of the study at this time.

TA/Cadet Forces

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many infantry private soldiers were on record in the Territorial Army at the onset of Iraq operations; and how many (a) are on record, (b) are available for Operation Telic 7 and (c) are expected to be available for Operation Telic 8.

Don Touhig: On 1 March 2003 there were some 4,000 Infantry Private Soldiers in the Territorial Army (TA). As at 1 June 2005 there were some 3,800 TA Infantry Private Soldiers, of this figure some 2,000 are available for Operation Telic 7 and we expect some 1,500 to be available for Operation Telic 8.

TA/Cadet Forces

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the formation will be of the Territorial Army contribution to Operation Telic 7.

Don Touhig: Some 550 personnel from the Territorial Army are expected to contribute to Operation Telic 7. Of these, some 240 personnel will form two Force Protection Companies, the remainder will be employed in a variety of roles in support of 7 Armoured Brigade.

TA/Cadet Forces

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army medical officers have been deployed since the start of Operation Telic; and how many of them worked in the NHS.

Don Touhig: In total, 754 Territorial Army medical personnel have deployed since the start of Operation Telic, all of whom worked within the NHS.

TA/Cadet Forces

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the role of each unit of the (a) Territorial Army and (b) cadet forces in Lancashire is; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Unit Role 
		
		
			 Territorial Army  
			 Regimental Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the Lancastrian and Cumbrian Volunteers Regiment (LVC) Infantry 
			 A Company (an Assault Pioneer Platoon) LVC Infantry 
			 B Company LVC Infantry 
			 D Company LVC Infantry 
			 B Squadron 207 Field Hospital Medical 
			 C Squadron 208 Field Hospital Medical 
			 5 General Support Medical Regiment Medical 
			 29 Company 3 Military Intelligence (Volunteers) Battalion. Intelligence 
			 93 Signals Squadron Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) Section Engineering 
			 93 Signals Squadron Signals 
			 Lancaster University Officer Training Corp Officer Training 
			 Army Cadet Force  
			 Corunna Company Armoured and Signals 
			 Normandy Company Infantry and Medical 
			 Salerno Company Engineers, Infantry and Armoured 
			 Wingate Company Armoured, Infantry and Logistics 
			 Egypt Company Armoured 
			 Sea Cadets  
			 Accrington and District The role of the Sea Cadets is to encourage valuable personal attributes and high standards of conduct, using a nautical theme based on the customs of the Royal Navy. 
			 Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale  
			 Preston  
			 Morecambe and Heysham  
			 Chorley  
			 Blackpool  
			 Fleetwood  
			 Blackburn  
			 Lytham St. Annes  
			 Air Cadets  
			 Cumbria and North Lancashire WG HQ The role of the Air Cadets is to encourage valuable personal attributes and high standards of conduct and to promote and encourage among young people a practical interest in aviation and the Royal Air Force. 
			 92 (Chorley)  
			 177 (Blackpool airport)  
			 206 (Thornton Cleveleys)  
			 341 (Preston)  
			 341 (Longridge)  
			 345 (City of Lancaster)  
			 455 (Morecambe and Heysham)  
			 471 (Hesketh Bank and Tarleton)  
			 967 (British Aerospace Warton)  
			 1301 (Fleetwood)  
			 2050 (Leyland)  
			 2246 (Carnforth)  
			 2376 (Bamber Bridge)  
			 2454 (Warbreck)  
			 2459 (Poulton-le-Fylde)  
			 2486 (Lytham St. Annes)  
			 East Lancashire WG HQ  
			 1035 (Accrington)  
			 352 (Burnley)  
			 11 04 (Pendle)  
			 1262 (Blackburn)  
			 1471 (Horwich)  
			 1969 (Rossendale)  
			 635 Volunteer Gliding School (Salmesbury)

TA/Cadet Forces

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list each of the cadet units based in Salisbury constituency.

Don Touhig: All four cadet forces are represented in the Salisbury and South Wiltshire constituency. They are:
	Sea Cadets
	Sea Cadet Unit No. 296.
	Churchill Way South,
	Salisbury, Wiltshire.
	Army Cadet Force
	Arakan Company located at:
	Childrens Corner, Downton, Wiltshire, SP5 3QE.
	TA Centre, Portway, Old Sarum, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 6BY.
	Wishford Road, Wilton, Wiltshire, SP2 OJG.
	Air Cadet Organisation
	Dorset and Wilts Wing.
	1010 Squadron (Salisbury), TA Centre, Portway, Old Sarum, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 6BY.
	1011 Squadron (Amesbury), Building No. 205, DERA Boscombe Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 6BY.
	Combined Cadet Force
	Godolphin School,
	Milford Hill,
	Salisbury, Wiltshire,
	SP1 2RA.

TA/Cadet Forces

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what buildings are used by the Territorial Army in Lancashire.

Don Touhig: The Territorial Army (TA) within the Lancashire county council administrative boundary (i.e. excluding Greater Manchester and Merseyside) regularly use the following buildings:
	Alexandra Barracks, Caton Road, Lancaster
	Kimberley Barracks, Deepdale Road, Preston
	Lancaster House, Devonshire Road, Chorley
	Sir Matthew Fell House, Parkinson Way, Blackpool
	Somme Barracks, Moss Street, Blackburn
	The Barracks, Canterbury Street, Blackburn
	In addition they occasionally utilise the following sites:
	Halton Training Camp, Lancaster
	Fulwood Barracks, Preston
	Weeton Camp, Preston

Tritium

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has made (a) an estimate of the current rate of depletion of the stock of tritium held by the Government for military purposes, (b) an estimate of the total amount of the tritium currently held and (c) an assessment of when these stocks will need to be replenished with new sources of tritium if the UK's current nuclear capability is to be maintained.

John Reid: holding answer 11 July 2005
	Yes.

TREASURY

Child Trust Fund

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many child trust fund vouchers had been issued to parents and carers as at 30 June 2005; how many child trust fund accounts had been opened as at 30 June 2005; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the reply he received from the Economic Secretary to the Treasury on 6 June 2005, Official Report, columns 286–87W. Figures are published quarterly.

Child Trust Fund

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many child trust funds have been established in (a) the UK, (b) the Yorkshire region and (c) Huddersfield.

John Healey: On the number of accounts opened in the UK I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 6 June 2005, Official Report, columns 286–87W.
	The information requested in connection with the Yorkshire region and Huddersfield is available only at disproportionate cost.

Child Trust Fund

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with banks about the take-up of child trust funds.

John Healey: The Government are continually engaged with a wide range of key stakeholders active in the child trust fund market and maintains close contact with providers and distributors to monitor activity.
	Nearly one third of vouchers have already been used and awareness of the fund is virtually universal, with many parents now seeing the child trust fund as the primary savings vehicle for their child.

Climate Change

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to promote action to tackle climate change within (a) the World Bank, (b) the International Monetary Fund and (c) the Bank of International Settlement.

John Healey: The Prime Minister has made tackling climate change one of the twin themes of the UK's presidency of the G8 in 2005. Among the international financial institutions, the World Bank and the regional development banks play the lead role in addressing climate change through policy advice and through their financing operations. At the G8 pre-Summit Finance Ministers' meeting, chaired by the Chancellor, Finance Ministers called on the World Bank and multilateral development banks (MDBs) to increase dialogue with their major borrowers on energy issues and put forward specific proposals at their annual meetings in September that encourage cost-effective investments in lower carbon infrastructure. Building on this, World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz will co-chair a meeting in September with the UK as G8 presidency on the financing workstream within the 'Dialogue on Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development', which was launched at Gleneagles. In addition, the Bank and MDBs will also take forward work with others to create a new framework for mobilising investment in clean energy. The UK will work with the institutions to ensure that these initiatives are taken forward effectively.

Debt Cancellation

Tony Baldry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what conditions those sub-Saharan African countries which have yet to have total multilateral debt cancellation have to meet before they may achieve such debt cancellations;
	(2)  which sub-Saharan countries have had multilateral debt cancelled following the recent G8 meeting; and which sub-Saharan countries are yet to have multilateral debt cancelled.

John Healey: Under the G8 debt agreement 100 per cent. stock cancellation will be delivered by relieving post-completion point HIPCs that are on track with their programmes of repayment obligations. 18 completion point heavily indebted poor countries will become eligible for multilateral debt relief once the G8 debt agreement is approved by the boards of the World bank, IMF and African development bank, 14 of these countries are in Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia). A further nine countries are expected to become eligible over the next two years as they reach completion point of the HIPC initiative, all of these are in Africa (Cameroon, Chad, DRC, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe). A further 11 countries are pre-decision point in the HIPC initiative, but would also become eligible when they reach completion point. Of these 11, nine are in Africa (Burundi, CAR, Comoros, Congo, Cote D'ivoire, Liberia, Somalia, Sudan and Togo),
	It is essential that the resources freed up by debt relief are used to support poverty reduction. For this reason, the G8 debt agreement provides debt relief only to those countries that have demonstrated their commitment to reducing poverty through implementing a successful poverty reduction strategy paper (PRSP). The countries that qualify for the G8 debt agreement will have reached completion point of the heavily indebted poor countries initiative and have demonstrated their commitment to poverty reduction and sound financial management.
	Under the G8 initiative, non HIPC sub-Saharan African countries do not receive multilateral debt relief. However, the UK's continuing bilateral policy of paying the debt service from loans for the AfDB and IDA is open to all low-income countries that are eligible only for concessional IDA lending and are following policies of sound public expenditure management.

Departmental Bills

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Bills were sponsored by his Department in each session since 1979.

John Healey: Details relating to the Sessions 1979–96 are not available. Information relating to primary legislation presented to Parliament by Treasury Ministers since 1997 is set out in the table. It does not include the Finance, Tax Law Rewrite and Consolidated Fund Bills, which are considered by Parliament on an annual basis.
	
		
			 Session Bill(s) presented by Treasury Ministers 
		
		
			 1997–98 Tax Credits (Initial Expenditure) Bank of England 
			 1998–99 Tax Credits 
			 1999–2000 Financial Services and Markets Government Resource and Accounting 
			 2000–01 Social Security Contributions (Share Options) 2001 
			 2001–02 European Communities (Finance) National Insurance Contributions Tax Credits 
			 2003–04 Child Trust Funds National Insurance Contributions and Statutory Payments 2004 
			 2004–05 Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Child Benefit 2005 
			 2005–06 Regulation of Financial Services (Land Transactions)

Life Expectancy Rates

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the life expectancy rates for each year between (a) 1980 to 1985, (b) 1990 to 1995 and (c) 1999 to 2004 were for (i) males and (ii) females for (A) Scotland, (B)England, (C) Wales, (D) Northern Ireland and (E)the UK.

John Healey: The following table gives past and projected period expectations of life at birth for males and females in the UK and each of the constituent countries for the years 1980 to 1985, 1990 to 1995 and 1999 to 2004 inclusive.
	The period expectation of life figures shown are based on the mortality rates experienced or projected by age and gender for the years stated and are the number of years people would be expected to live from birth if they experienced those mortality rates throughout their remaining lifetimes.
	
		Period life expectancy at birth by country and selected year -- Years
		
			  Scotland England Wales Northern Ireland United Kingdom 
		
		
			 Males  
			 1980 69.0 70.8 70.0 68.3 70.5 
			 1981 69.1 71.1 70.5 69.3 70.9 
			 1982 69.3 71.3 70.8 70.0 71.1 
			 1983 69.7 71.6 70.8 70.0 71.3 
			 1984 69.9 72.0 71.6 70.5 71.7 
			 1985 70.1 71.9 71.2 70.6 71.7 
			 1990 71.1 73.1 72.8 72.2 72.9 
			 1991 71.4 73.3 73.1 72.5 73.1 
			 1992 71.6 73.8 73.5 73.0 73.5 
			 1993 71.4 73.7 73.1 72.7 73.5 
			 1994 72.1 74.3 73.6 73.3 74.0 
			 1995 72.1 74.2 73.5 73.3 74.0 
			 1999 72.7 75.2 74.3 74.2 74.9 
			 2000 73.2 75.7 75.1 74.9 75.4 
			 2001 73.4 76.1 75.4 75.3 75.8 
			 2002 73.4 76.2 75.8 75.5 75.9 
			 2003 73.8 76.4 75.5 76.0 76.1 
			 2004(9) 74.2 76.8 76.0 76.1 76.5 
			   
			 Females  
			 1980 75.2 76.8 76.2 75.0 76.6 
			 1981 75.4 77.1 76.4 75.9 76.9 
			 1982 75.3 77.2 76.6 75.7 77.0 
			 1983 75.7 77.5 76.8 76.4 77.2 
			 1984 75.9 77.8 77.5 76.9 77.6 
			 1985 75.8 77.6 77.2 76.8 77.4 
			 1990 76.9 78.7 78.7 77.9 78.5 
			 1991 77.1 78.8 78.8 78.4 78.6 
			 1992 77.3 79.2 78.9 78.9 79.0 
			 1993 77.0 79.0 78.7 78.4 78.8 
			 1994 77.7 79.5 79.2 78.8 79.3 
			 1995 77.7 79.4 78.9 78.8 79.2 
			 1999 78.2 80.0 79.4 79.2 79.8 
			 2000 78.6 80.4 80.0 79.8 80.2 
			 2001 78.8 80.7 80.1 80.3 80.5 
			 2002 78.9 80.8 80.2 80.3 80.6 
			 2003 78.9 80.7 80.2 80.6 80.5 
			 2004(9) 79.3 81.1 80.6 80.6 80.9 
		
	
	(9)Figures for years up to and including 2003 are based on actual data; figures for 2004 are based on projected data.

Ministry of Defence (Funding)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his plans for funding to the Ministry of Defence are over the next five years.

Des Browne: The Governments Spending Review 2004 published spending plans for the Ministry of Defence from 2004–05 to 2007–08. Spending plans for subsequent years will be published in the next Spending Review. The net additional costs of military operations are met in full from the Reserve.

PFI Initiatives

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 11 July 2005 to question reference 11365, if he will list the private finance initiative schemes undertaken since 1997 which have been classed as on the public sector balance sheet.

John Healey: I refer to the answer given by the former Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Paul Boateng) to the Member for Arundel and South Downs (Mr. Flight) on 5 January 2004, Official Report, column 165W.

Stamp Duty Returns

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many stamp duty land tax returns were made in the year ended 31 March 2005 in respect of transactions the value of which was below the stamp duty land tax threshold.

John Healey: The latest quarterly figures for the number of transactions in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2004–05, which were not liable to stamp duty land tax, on account of falling below the stamp duty land tax threshold, will be published on 21 July on the HMRC website at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/survey_of_prop/table16–5.pdf.

Stamp Duty Returns

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many penalties for failure to complete stamp duty land tax returns correctly and on time have been issued since the form was introduced; and what percentage of those penalties have subsequently been rescinded.

John Healey: Approximately 67,000 late filing penalty notices have been issued. Over the same period over 2.6 million returns have been received. Penalty notices are issued where SDLT returns are received more than 30 days after the effective date of the relevant transaction.
	A person can appeal against a late filing penalty if they believe that they have a 'reasonable excuse' for filing a return late. Guidance on HMRC's view of what constitutes a 'reasonable excuse' is contained in the leaflet 'Penalties for late land transaction returns' (SD7), which is available on the HMRC website at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/leaflets/sd7.pdf. We issue a leaflet to each customer covering this information with their Penalty Notice. A figure for the number of cases where it is accepted that there is a 'reasonable excuse' is not available.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were employed in the administration of tax credits for each quarter from 2003 Q1 to 2005 Q2; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Information is not available on a quarterly basis.
	The number of staff employed in 2003–04 can be found at paragraph 2.2 of the Comptroller and Auditor General's Report for 2003–04 which can be found in the Board's Annual Report at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/pdfs/report2004.pdf.
	Around 8,200 staff were employed in 2004–05.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit interim payments were sent out in (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06 to date; what their total value was in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many emergency payments have been made by the Inland Revenue tax credits administration in each year since 2000; what the total value was of those emergency payments; and whether the payments were made by (i) cheque, (ii) direct payment and (iii)cash.

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what value of giro cheque payments made to tax credit claimants were not made via the tax credit computer in each month in (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) April to June 2005.

Dawn Primarolo: For interim payments made in 2003–04 I refer the hon. Members to page 125 of the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General 2003–04, which can be found in the Board's Annual Report at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/pdfs/report2004.pdf.
	A breakdown of the interim payments made in 2004–05 and 2005–06 could be made available only at disproportionate cost.
	Emergency payments are made by girocheque either in person at a HMRC Enquiry Centre or by post to the taxpayer.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Customs and Revenue staff were employed in dealing with tax credit (a) over-payments, (b) appeals and (c) complaints in each quarter from Q1 2002 to Q2 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Quarterly information for the period concerned is not available.
	In respect of (a) , I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 7 July 2005, Official Report, column 623W, to the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Osborne). For (c), Irefer to the answer I gave the hon. Gentlemen on 6 July 2005, Official Report, columns 436–7W. On (b), the full-time equivalent of around 160 staff were working on tax credit appeals at 28 May 2005.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the take-up rate of working tax credit;
	(2)  what proportion of working families with childrenare receiving tax credits; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him of 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 95W. Please note, however, that the figure for the average number of families benefiting from child and working tax credits in 2003–04 given in that answer should have been 5.7 million and not 5.5 million.

Tax Returns

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he has taken to encourage individuals to file their self assessment tax returns on time; and how much has been spent on such measures in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC (Inland Revenue to April 2005) has taken a number of steps to encourage individuals to file their self-assessment tax returns on time, including:
	extensive media campaigns, involving TV, radio, billboards, railway/tube and newspaper advertisements;
	advertising campaigns designed to promote e-filing;
	increased press advertising in January, specifically aimed at the construction industry and self-employed;
	national pro-active telephony campaign to remind those at highest risk of filing late about the deadline and pointing them towards help;
	issuing reminder inserts" with Class 2 NIC quarterly bills (October and January);
	raising awareness among agents with publicity in the Department's Tax Bulletin publication;
	using the Department's network of local radio broadcasters to promote the deadline message;
	local newspaper press releases to advertise inquiry centre opening times around the filing deadline;
	front-line staff reminding people about the deadline in day-to-day contact with customers.
	On the cost of the measures for the years 2000 to 2004, I refer the hon. Member back to the answers given to him on 19 November 2003, Official Report, column1093W, and to the hon. Member for West Dorset on 5 January 2004.
	The figure for media costs for self-assessment for 2004–05 was £7.5 million, inclusive of VAT.

Policy Costings

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequerwhat costings of (a) Liberal Democrat and (b) Conservative party policies his Department has (i)undertaken, (ii) co-ordinated in the previous 12 months and (iii) advised upon in the previous 12 months.

Des Browne: I refer to the hon. Member to HM Treasury's website: www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/about/information/foi_disclosures/foi_disclosures_index.cfm

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Air Conditioning (Portcullis House)

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how much energy on average was used to power the air-conditioning in Portcullis House in the last period for which figures are available.

Nick Harvey: The electricity used for the mechanical ventilation in Portcullis House is not measured separately from other consumption in the building. Electricity is not used to power chillers.

Lighting

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what percentage of (a) external and (b) internal lights within the House estate are (i)movement-activated and (ii) activated by a particular degree of darkness;

Nick Harvey: Around 10 per cent. of the internal areas in the House of Commons parts of the Palace of Westminster, the Norman Shaw buildings, 1 Canon Row, and 7 Millbank have movement-activated lights. In Portcullis House, 1 Parliament Street and 1 Derby Gate there are sophisticated time switch controls. External lights generally are on seasonally adjusted time switch control.

Office Accommodation

Andrew Turner: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what area of office accommodation is occupied by (a) hon. Members, (b) their staff and (c) each department of the House for each building of the Parliamentary estate.

Nick Harvey: The following table shows the information sought in relation to offices over the estate as a whole. I will write to the hon. Member with details broken down by each building when this information has been assembled.
	
		
			 Office occupiers Area (Sq m) 
		
		
			 Members 20,400 
			 Members' staff 7,500 
			 Clerk's Department 5,450 
			 Hansard 1,600 
			 Department of Finance and Administration 2,050 
			 Serjeant at Arms' Department 7,950 
			 Library offices 2,300 
			 Refreshment Department offices 700

Records

Andrew Turner: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what records are kept of (a) use of security passes, (b) telephone calls made and (c) emails sent and received by (i) hon. Members, (ii) their staff and (iii) staff of the House; who has access to such records; for how long; and under what conditions such access is maintained in each case.

Nick Harvey: In respect of both Members and staff, the pass system is capable of supplying data on the electronic use of security passes. Such a report would only be produced at the request of the Serjeant at Arms or the Metropolitan police. The records are kept indefinitely. No record is kept of telephone numbers called. Email records are kept for three months after an item has been deleted. The policy on access to those to or from staff of the House is outlined in the Staff Handbook. Emails to and from Members would not normally be accessed and those to and from Members' staff only with permission of the Member concerned.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Arms Exports/Trade

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment he has made of whether the ultimate end destination of arms exported from the UK meets the provisions of the Export Control Act 2002.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 5 July 2005
	The Government are satisfied that all licences issued authorising the export from the UK of strategic goods are fully consistent with the provisions of the Export Control Act 2002. In line with Section 9 of that Act, all export licence applications are assessed against the consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, which require specific consideration under Criterion 7 of the 'existence of a risk that the equipment will be diverted within the buyer country or re-exported under undesirable conditions'. When making our licensing assessment we take full account of the equipment's potential end-use and destination as well as the stated end-use and destination.

Arms Exports/Trade

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of UK exports of goods and services was made up from sales of arms in each of the last 10 years; and what proportion was made up of sales of arms to developing countries.

Alun Michael: Information on the proportion of UK exports accounted for by arms is given in the following table:
	
		UK exports of arms as a percentage of total exports of goods and services 1995 to 2004
		
			  UK exports of goods and services Total UK exports of arms including aerospace equipment UK exports of arms developing countries(10) excluding aerospace equipment 
		
		
			 1995 100.0 2.3 n/a 
			 1996 100.0 2.8 n/a 
			 1997 100.0 2.9 0.9 
			 1998 100.0 2.6 0.4 
			 1999 100.0 1.8 0.2 
			 2000 100.0 1.7 0.2 
			 2001 100.0 1.5 0.1 
			 2002 100.0 1.5 0.1 
			 2003 100.0 1.6 0.2 
			 2004 100.0 n/a 0.2 
		
	
	n/a=Not available.
	(10)OECD definition of developing countries
	Source:
	National Statistics, Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics Ministry of Defence, DASA

Arms Exports/Trade

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) reports and (b) representations (i) he and (ii) his officials have received concerning the possible involvement of UK-based companies in the transportation of arms and ammunition from the Balkans and Eastern Europe to the Great Lakes region of Africa; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: I am aware of Amnesty International's recent report Democratic Republic of Congo: Arming the East". The incidents described therein were first raised by Amnesty International in 2003, and were investigated by HM Revenue and Customs. Any new evidence of breaches of export controls would be a matter for them to pursue as appropriate.

Arms Exports/Trade

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will undertake an investigation into the activities in respect of the transport of arms to the Democratic Republic of Congo, by African International Airways, Italia Ltd. and Platinum Air Cargo; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Investigations into alleged breaches of UK export controls are a matter for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) as the investigating authority.

Arms Exports/Trade

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to review his policy on the export of firearms.

Malcolm Wicks: None. The new controls introduced under the Export Control Act 2002 only recently completed their implementation, on 1 May 2004, and included new controls on the trafficking and brokering of firearms.

BNFL

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date the £575 million loan to BNFL was agreed; for what purpose it was made; and what conditions were set down for its re-payment.

Malcolm Wicks: As part of the balance sheet restructuring of BNFL, the company issued a £575 million debenture on 1 April 2005 to DTI under the direction of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made under the Energy Act. Its principal purpose is to provide a mechanism to return cash to the shareholder. The debenture pays 7.5 per cent. interest and interest payments start in December 2006.

BNFL

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has received from BNFL about proposals for AMEC to buy its British Nuclear Group subsidiary.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 12 July 2005
	For reasons of commercial confidentiality, it would not be appropriate for me to reveal whether any company has or has not approached BNFL or the Department about acquiring British Nuclear Group.

British National Space Centre

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the main objectives are of the British National Space Centre (BNSC); and what assessment has been made of expenditure by the BNSC funding partners to achieve these objectives.

Malcolm Wicks: The UK Space Strategy 2003–06 prepared by the BNSC set out three objectives:
	enhancing the UK's standing in astronomy, planetary and environmental sciences;
	stimulating increased productivity by promoting the use of space in Government, science and commerce; and
	developing innovative space systems, to deliver sustainable improvement in the quality of life.
	The National Audit Office in its report on UK civil space activities published in March 2004 concluded that the BNSC partnership approach is cost effective and made recommendations on project funding, risk assessment and performance monitoring. BNSC have taken steps to implement these recommendations. The Public Accounts Committee also published its report on 9 June 2005. The Government will respond in due course by a Treasury Minute.

Carbon Sequestration

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the potential for carbon sequestration in the Scottish sector of the North sea as defined by the Civil Jurisdiction (Offshore Activities) Order 1987.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 11 July 2005
	No assessment has yet been made on the potential for carbon storage in the Scottish sector of the North sea although the British Geological Survey's estimate of storage in the UK sector as a whole is 755 Giga tonnes CO 2 . More information can be found in the DTI's report Review of the Feasibility of Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage in the UK", published in September 2003 and available on the DTI website at
	http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/coal/cfft/co2capture/review.pdf.

Correspondence

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will reply to the letter dated 12 May from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan regarding his constituent Mr. J. McGee of Peterhead.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 12 July 2005
	The letter from the hon. Member was misdirected within the Department.
	The letter has now been redirected to the correct officials for advice and will be responded to as soon as possible. Please accept my apologies for the delay.

Crude Oil Production

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate the Department has made of when global production of conventional crude oil will peak.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government's assessment of the remaining lifespan of global oil reserves is set out in the Energy White Paper 2003 Our energy future—creating a low carbon economy" (http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/whitepaper/index.shtml). Paragraph 6.15 of the White Paper notes that
	Globally, conventional oil reserves are sufficient to meet projected demand for around 30 years, although new discoveries will be needed to renew reserves. Together with non-conventional reserves such as oil shales and improvements in technology, there is the potential for oil reserves to last twice as long".
	This is consistent with the latest assessment by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in its 2004 World Energy Outlook. The IEA concludes that
	... global production of conventional oil will not peak before 2030 if the necessary investments are made."
	The Government remain committed to working with producers, consumers and the international community to improve the conditions for investment in the international oil sector, as well as implementing policies to maximise the economic recovery of the UK's own oil (and gas) reserves and to ease the UK economy away from power supplied primarily through fossil fuel supply. We are also supporting efforts to promote greater transparency in reporting of global oil reserves.

Departmental Expenditure

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much the Department has spent on organising or sponsoring conferences in each of the last five years.

Alan Johnson: The Department does not maintain a central register of conferences organised or sponsored. Responsibility for such conferences rests with individual business units in DTI and therefore this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The Department is therefore unable to provide the figures requested.

Departmental Officials/Staff

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library the entry requirements for a (a) Range 3 and (b) Range 4 official in his Department.

Alan Johnson: The entry requirements for Range 3 and Range 4 officials in my department are: a minimum of five GCSE grade C passes or above including English Language and Mathematics, or equivalent qualifications, or NVQ Business Administration level 2 or an equivalent NVQ level 2 with relevance to office work and containing an assessment or examination in English language, or at least three years' work experience in a comparable position.
	This information is published in the application process each time my Department recruits for Range 3 and Range 4 officials. It can also be found, together with additional information about employment terms and conditions, on my Department's website www.dti.gov.uk/opportunities

Departmental Officials/Staff

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many full-time equivalents have worked for the Department for each of the last five financial years for which figures are available.

Alan Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to table C of civil service statistics 2004 which is available on the internet at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_information/statistical_information/statistics/publications/xls/report_2004/table_c.xls
	This table shows the numbers of staff by department and agency between 1998 and 2004, on a full-time equivalent basis. Copies of civil service statistics are also available in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Officials/Staff

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff in each Directorate, work at least one day per week from home, broken down by grade.

Alan Johnson: Our data is limited as many flexible working patterns, including working from home, are negotiated locally. However, our staff survey shows that 78 per cent. of staff state that their managers allow working patterns including working at home to help them balance work and home life.
	The department introduced a flexible working policy in 2002, including full guidance for managers and staff to ensure that new ways of working (including home working) are available to all individuals in all Directorates and all grades, and that the benefits to stakeholders, customers, managers and staff are maximised.

Energy Security

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his policy is on energy security.

Malcolm Wicks: Maintaining reliable supplies of energy is one of four main goals of energy policy set out in the Energy White Paper, published in February of last year.
	The White Paper re-affirmed our commitment to a market-based system for maintaining security of supply. It also stated that the Government will not intervene in the market except in extreme circumstances, such as to avert, as a last resort, a potentially serious risk to safety.
	Under section 172 of the Energy Act 2004, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is required to report annually to Parliament on security of supply. The first report will be published later this month.

Export Control Organisation

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry with which private sector organisations ASE Consulting held exploratory discussions in relation to the business opportunity in running the Export Control Organisation.

Malcolm Wicks: ASE Consulting approached three organisations and held discussions with two. The Department does not hold information on which parties were approached.

Export Control Organisation

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 54W, on the Export Control Organisation, which external organisations provided a view on an informal basis.

Malcolm Wicks: Informal discussions in relation to the Review were held with representatives from the Defence Manufacturer's Association, the Export Group for Aerospace and Defence and BAE Systems.

Hiatt Handcuffs

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether Hiatt handcuffs have any current export licences for oversize handcuffs to (a) the US and (b) elsewhere.

Malcolm Wicks: This is commercially confidential information and as such is exempt from disclosure. Summary information on the goods licensed to each destination is however published in the Government's Annual and Quarterly Reports on Strategic Export Controls which are available from the Libraries of the House and the Export Control Organisation website www.dti.gov.uk/export.control respectively. The goods summary in question is handcuffs".
	Particular scrutiny is given to every application to export oversized handcuffs to assess the risk of there being use as leg irons.

Hydro Power

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many micro generators using hydro power contribute to the main grid.

Malcolm Wicks: 239 small-scale (i.e. with a capacity below 5MW) hydro generators accounted for 184MW of installed generation capacity at the end of 2004. It is not clear how much of this capacity is exported to the distribution network, rather than consumed by the generator, as the number will change on a daily basis according to the level of demand by the generator themselves and the total electricity generated on a given day.

Hydro Power

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what electricity price is guaranteed to microgenerators using converted water mills; and for how long their price is guaranteed.

Malcolm Wicks: The levels of electricity generated by a converted water mill will vary according to the size of the installation, the flow of the water and other such factors. There is no price guarantee for the electricity exported to the distribution network. Any payment for this electricity will be subject to agreement between the relevant distribution network operator and the generator.
	Electricity generated by converted water mills will be eligible under the Renewables Obligation allowing generators to claim Renewable Obligation Certificates.

Hydro Power

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the capital cost of converting a water mill to microgeneration.

Malcolm Wicks: The cost of converting a water mill to become a microgeneration station depends heavily on the site in question and the size of the scheme. A study by BSD Ltd. in September 2002 suggests that schemes typically cost anything between £1,000 and £3,000 per installed kW, and much more than this for small domestic scale schemes. My Department has recently put out a tender for some research that will look at the costs and benefits of all forms of microgeneration including micro-hydro.

Hydro Power

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the economic viability of microgeneration using converted water mills.

Malcolm Wicks: The economic viability of converted water mills acting as microgenerators depends on manydifferent factors—the cost of the conversion, the generating capacity of the installation, the actual output of the generating station, agreement with the relevant distribution network operator on tariff for any electricity exported, etc.
	My Department has recently put out a tender for some research to look at the costs and benefits of all forms of micro generation including micro-hydro. This study will feed into work on the Government's strategy for the promotion of microgeneration which will be published next year.

International Trade Advisers

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many international trade advisers are employed by regional development authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: International Trade Advisers are not employed by Regional Development Agencies. They are funded by UK Trade and Investment, which acts as the RDAs' International Trade arm, and are employed by local providers of business support services (mostly Business Link Operators). In the 2005–06 financial year, UK Trade and Investment is making funding available for a network of 282 International Trade Advisers across the nine English regions.

Liquid Natural Gas (Equatorial Guinea)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the potential for Equatorial Guinea to supply liquid natural gas to the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: We have not made a specific assessment of the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) potential in Equatorial Guinea, although we are aware that the development of the LNG sector offers greater opportunity for the export of such natural gas reserves. The sourcing of gas supplies from overseas is a matter for commercial operators who have every incentive to make their own assessment of the merits of supplies from different countries.

Lost/Stolen Goods

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the items reported within his Department as being lost or stolen, together with the approximate value of each item, in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Alan Johnson: I refer the hon. Member for Southend, West to the answer given to the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Osborne) on 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 146W, for items reported lost and stolen each year until end 2005.
	The latest figures reported for 2005 are:
	
		
			 Description Number reported missing 
		
		
			 Laptop 14 
			 Flat screen 0 
			 Mobile phone 11 
			 Handheld computers 1 
			 Desk computer 1 
			 Multimedia 8 
			 Laptop accessories 0 
			 Mobile phone accessories 2 
			 Handheld computers accessories 0 
			 Communication accessories 0 
			 Computer peripherals 2 
			 Consumables 9 
			 Personal effects 20 
			 Cash 12 
			 Total 80 
		
	
	The Department's records do not differentiate between items reported lost or stolen, or those belonging to the Department or individuals. The value of the reported losses for 2005 was not recorded.

Luneside Link

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Luneside Link, as referred to in the context of the Northern Route (Heysham/ M6 link) in the North West Development Agency Regeneration and Economic Development Assessment Final Report of January 2005, is.

Alun Michael: The Regeneration and Economic Development Assessment Final Report states that the Luneside link is a proposed new bridge across the River Lune, linking Morecambe Road and the quayside at Luneside West regeneration area. It also states that the link would provide a new river crossing, bypassing the railway 'barrier' and the residential areas to the east.

Manufacturing

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to prevent UK manufacturing jobs being relocated to countries where labour costs are lower.

Alun Michael: The Government want a successful manufacturing sector in this country and naturally we would like to keep as many jobs in the UK as possible. However it is not our policy to intervene in the location decisions of private companies. The Government's manufacturing strategy focuses on helping companies to meet the challenge from countries with low labour costs by moving to high value, high skill manufacturing. In addition UK trade and investment seeks to encourage foreign direct investment which in 2004 created/safeguarded over 38,000 manufacturing jobs.

MG Rover

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date his Department was first informed of the financial difficulties facing MG Rover; and on what date (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department first entered into discussions with executives at MG Rover.

Ian Pearson: From the time that BMW sold the company it was always clear that MG Rover would need to find a partner if it was to be successful in the long-term. From its regular contact with the company (primarily at official level), the Department was aware that the need was becoming more pressing as time went on.
	MG Rover made a request for a bridging loan facility from the Government at a meeting on 21 February 2005.

MG Rover

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his Department's discussions with (a) MG Rover management executives and (b) representatives of the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation in the month of (i) January, (ii) February, (iii) March, (iv)April and (v) May.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 4 July 2005
	Clearly the period between January and April was one where important decisions were being taken by MG Rover's management and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC). Consequently DTI Ministers and officials had a number of discussions with MG Rover management and SAIC although I can confirm the Department has had no discussions with either during May.

MG Rover

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Yardley (John Hemming) of 6 June 2005, Official Report, column 308W, on MG Rover, if he will list the strict criteria under which the bridging loan facility was to be provided.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 4 July 2005
	The fundamental points on which the Government would have required satisfaction before making a bridging loan facility available were confidence that the deal with SAIC would proceed and that the facility would have been repaid in full as a result. Any loan would have been secured against available assets and borne a commercial rate of interest.
	The formulation of the detailed criteria was, however, integral to the policy making process and their release in full would not be in the public interest.

MG Rover

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date the Government first received a request for a bridging loan to aid the completion of a commercial deal to help secure the future of MG Rover.

Ian Pearson: The Government received a letter from John Towers on 15 March 2005 formally requesting a loan until completion of the deal with SAIC. An oral request was made in a meeting between Kevin Howe and officials on 21 February.

Miners' Compensation

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much compensation has been paid so far to claimants from Newcastle-under-Lyme for coal mining industrial injuries.

Malcolm Wicks: As at 31 May 2005, £6 million had been paid for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and £3.8 million for vibration white finger.

Miners' Compensation

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been paid by his Department in fees to each firm of solicitors dealing with coal mining industrial injury compensation under the British Coal Claims Handling Agreement; how many (a) claims have been made and (b) cases have been settled by each firm; and how much has been paid out in compensation through each firm.

Malcolm Wicks: A table containing the requested information entitled Claim receipts, settlements, damages and costs paid (COPD/VWF) by solicitor" has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many medicals for (a) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, (b) vibration white finger and (c) hearing loss have taken place at the Union of Democratic Mineworkers' office, Berry Hill, Mansfield since 1999; and at what cost to his Department.

Malcolm Wicks: 7,714 medicals in total in relation to vibration white finger have taken place at Berry Hill, Mansfield since 1999. This figure excludes the pilot examinations that took place up to 1 September 1999. The Department's claims handlers do not record how many chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or hearing loss medicals have taken place at individual centres. The Department therefore is unable to assess the total cost of the medicals undertaken at Berry Hill.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what processes are in place to ensure that deceased claims under the miners compensation scheme are submitted by genuine relatives.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department's Claims Handlers (Capita) will only issue settlement payments under the schemes once they are in receipt of the appropriate documentation (Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration) showing the legal beneficiary of a deceased miner's claim. At the onset of a claim it is the responsibility of the solicitors registering the case to ensure the person they are representing will ultimately be the entitled beneficiary of any compensation.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many appeals to medical examinations have been (a) pursued and (b) accepted since 1999 under the Miners Compensation Scheme.

Malcolm Wicks: Since 1 January 1999, 44,154 appeals relating to respiratory disease medical examinations and 4,182 appeals relating to vibration white finger medical examinations have been lodged. The number of successful appeals is not recorded separately but incorporated into all claims in which revised offers have been issued. Therefore, this figure is not available.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what verification process is used for the results of medical examinations under the Miners Compensation Scheme, for (a) the Government and (b) the claimant; and how often this process has been used.

Malcolm Wicks: For both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and vibration white finger, the medical contractors have well developed clinical governance processes in place to assure the medical quality of the work undertaken. The quality of the reports is verified by trained medical auditors using a defined audit process of statistically valid sample cases. In addition, an independent Medical Reference Panel undertake a quality review, each month, on a number of completed medical reports. Members of the Medical Reference Panel are jointly appointed by the Department and the Claimants' Solicitor Group. Finally, a clerical audit is completed on every medical report. These quality assurance and verification processes safeguard both the claimant and the Department but the claimant also has redress through a disputes procedure.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average settlement (a) to the claimant and (b) in solicitors' and medical fees was for coal health claims relating to deafness settled by his Department in the last year for which figures are available.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 11 July 2005
	Noise Induced Hearing Loss Claims are not handled under a specific scheme. There are two types of claim, one settled under the Iron Trade Tariff and the other through Common Law. The average settlement under the Iron Trade Tariff for claimants is approximately £1,500 with costs and disbursements ranging from £485 to £800 +VAT. Claims under Common Law have an average settlement of between £3,000 and £3,500. Costs paid are negotiated and can range from £2,000 to £4,000.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which claims handlers have been referred by the Coal Health Claims Unit to the Corporate Governance Unit for investigation.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 11 July 2005
	No such referrals have been made.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many requests were made to his Department to investigate coal health claims handlers through the Department's Corporate Governance Unit in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 11 July 2005
	No such requests have been received.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will suspend payments of fees to the Union of Democratic Mineworkers and Vendside in respect of coal health claims; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer my hon. Friend to my written statement to the House of 30 June 2005, Official Report, columns 66–68WS.

National Gas Transmission System Reinforcements

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the environmental impact assessment that has been made on the gas pipeline serving the National Gas Transmission System Reinforcements.

Malcolm Wicks: Under the Gas Transporter Pipe-line Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 1999 the environmental impact assessment for a proposed pipeline is made available to the public by the developer. A copy of it is also made available for public inspection at the premises of the relevant local planning authority.

National Gas Transmission System Reinforcements

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with colleagues in the National Assembly for Wales on the structure of planning decisions relating to the pipelines serving the National Gas Transmission System Reinforcements.

Malcolm Wicks: I have had no discussions with ministerial colleagues in the Welsh Assembly Government on the decisions making mechanism for these pipelines.

National Gas Transmission System Reinforcements

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the impact of the proposed National Gas Transmission System Reinforcements on the environment.

Malcolm Wicks: The environmental impact of a proposed gas pipeline is something to be properly probed in the consideration of any application for consent under the Gas Transporter Pipe-line Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 1999.

Non-polluting Energy Technologies

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to promote fuel-cell and other non-polluting technologies in tackling climate change.

Malcolm Wicks: Fuel cells are still mainly at the pre-commercial stage. Significant cost reductions and increased durability will be required in order for them to be competitive with existing technologies, particularly for transport applications. The Department supports industrial collaborative research and development of fuel cells under the DTI Technology Programme. On 14 June 2005 I announced additional funding of £15 million over four years to cover fuel cell and hydrogen demonstrations, part of a £40 million package which also included carbon abatement technologies.
	DTI also provides support for a range of other non-polluting technologies through the DTI Technology Programme and various capital grant programmes.

North West Development Agency

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many North West Development Agency vision boards there are in the North West Region.

Alun Michael: The North West Development Agency has encouraged the establishment of three local vision boards in the North West—Burnley, Lancaster and Preston.
	An important function of the NWDA is to provide leadership and encourage partnership working in delivery of the Regional Economic Strategy (RES). Across the Region, partnerships' capacity to properly engage in this varies greatly, particularly in securing private sector input. In key urban areas facing change, these vision boards are intended to provide dynamic, innovative and visionary support and advice for the development of local economic growth plans with a strong private sector input. They work closely with their relevant local authority and the relevant Local Strategic Partnership.

North West Development Agency

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much Government funding has been provided for the vision boards set up by the North West Development Agency.

Alun Michael: The North West Development Agency has encouraged the establishment of three local vision boards in the north-west Burnley, Lancaster and Preston.
	The NWDA has contributed the following amounts to enhance the capacity of the vision boards to steer and influence the development of economic regeneration plans; to support master-planning and to research the local economy:
	
		Total 2005–06 to 2007–08
		
			 Vision board £000 
		
		
			 Preston 207 
			 Lancaster 200 
			 Burnley 178

Nuclear Power

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the Board of Inquiry report on the Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant at Sellafield.

Malcolm Wicks: The internal Board of Inquiry report on the incident at the Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (Thorp) was published by British Nuclear Group and is available on their website at www.britishnucleargroup.com.

Nuclear Power

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the likelihood of further plant failures at Thorp.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 11 July 2005
	The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is preparing advice on the options for the future of Thorp. That advice will include an assessment of the likelihood of further failure of the plant.

Patent Act

Eric Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the commencement date is for the part of the Patent Act 2004 relating to post-grant amendments.

Alan Johnson: The part of the Patents Act 2004 relating to post-grant amendment is one of several provisions which will bring UK patents legislation into line with the revised European Patent Convention (EPC"). All such provisions will be brought into force at the same time as the revised EPC itself comes into force, which is desirable in order to maintain consistency between the UK and European patents systems. It is uncertain exactly when this will be, because the revised EPC takes effect 2 years after the 15th state has ratified or acceded, or (if earlier) three months after the final state has ratified or acceded. At present I understand that 14 states have done so, and therefore that the revised EPC, and the corresponding provisions in the 2004 Act, are very unlikely to take effect until mid-2007 at the earliest.

Refurbishment Costs

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost was of refurbishing 1Victoria Street; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: The refurbishment of 1 Victoria Street is a key part of the Department's two roof programme to rationalise its central London estate and will allow the Department to reduce its accommodation by approximately 30 per cent. The cost of the recently completed phase 1 of the programme covering the majority of the building is approximately £12 million and has resulted in the release of accommodation in four other London buildings which will generate long term savings of £7.7million annually.

Renewable Energy

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what consultation preceded the decision to allow large hydro generators to downrate their plant below 20 MW to qualify for accreditation for renewables obligations certificates where turbine refurbishment had taken place; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether the decision on allowing new or refurbished hydro plant below 20MW to qualify for renewables obligations certificates was made (a) before and (b) after the end of the public consultation.

Malcolm Wicks: The decision to allow all new and refurbished hydro plant under 20 MW to be eligible for renewables obligation certificates (ROCS) was made after the Renewables Obligation Preliminary Consultation, published October 2000 and was included within paragraph 2.17 of the Renewables Obligation Statutory Consultation, published August 2001 as:
	The majority of responses to the preliminary consultation supported the exclusion of large scale hydro stations, which were constructed under public ownership. However, concern was expressed by the industry over the age of current stations and the need to refurbish them, and there has also been concern that some potential new developments could not proceed without support. We therefore propose to exclude existing stations with a declared net capacity (DNC) of over 20MW from the Obligation, but to include any station first commissioned after the date of the Order is made, regardless of capacity. We believe that these measures will encourage the refurbishment of existing stations of up to 20MW and will support any future scheme if planning permission can be secured".

Renewable Energy

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will commission research on the transmission charging regime for generators in Scotlandto identify barriers to the development and implementation of renewable and carbon capture and abatement technologies in Scotland.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 7 July 2005
	Responsibility for approving a transmission charging methodology rests with the independent regulator, Ofgem. Ofgem approved National Grid Company's proposed methodology in February 2005, following extensive consultation with the industry, and a consideration of the environmental impacts of the proposals. The Department commissioned independent consultants to investigate the impact of transmission charges on renewable generation in Scotland. Their report will be published later this summer, alongside the Government's proposals for adjusting transmission charges for renewable generators in a specified area of the North of Scotland.

Renewable Energy

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the review of the Renewables Obligation scheme has examined (a) hydro generators of over 20 MW capacity down-rating plant in order to apply for accreditation by Ofgem for renewables obligations certificates, (b) provision of renewables obligations certificates to hydro plant below 20 MW that upgrade to over 20 MW capacity, (c) the removal of the 20 MW limit for hydro plant receiving renewables obligations certificates and (d) the creation of a specific regime for hydro plant to encourage increases in output from this source.

Malcolm Wicks: I am able to confirm that the current review of the Renewables Obligation has not examined either hydro generators of over 20 MW capacity down-rating plant in order to apply for accreditation by Ofgem for renewables obligations certificates, provision of renewables obligations certificates to hydro plant currently below 20 MW that upgrade to over 20 MW capacity, the removal of the 20 MW limit for hydro plant receiving renewables obligations certificates or, the creation of a specific regime for hydro plant to encourage increases in output from this source.

Renewable Energy

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the impact on output from hydro generators of the decision to allow down rating of plant to qualify for renewables obligation certificates; what the output from hydro in (a) the UK and (b) Scotland was in each year since 1997; and what the public subsidy for hydro per kw/h was in each year since 1997.

Malcolm Wicks: Output (generation) by natural flow hydro for the years 1997–2004 in gigawatt hours is:
	
		
			  UK Scotland 
		
		
			 1997 4,169 (11)— 
			 1998 5,117 (11)— 
			 1999 5,335 (11)— 
			 2000 5,085 4,665 
			 2001 4,055 3,737 
			 2002 4,788 4,455 
			 2003 3,228 2,984 
			 2004 4,930 (12)— 
		
	
	(11)Not available.
	(12)Not yet available.

Renewable Energy

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the review of the renewables obligation certificates is investigating the extension of the obligation in some form to cover (a) carbon capture and sequestration schemes, (b) carbon abatement retro-fit for existing coal and gas fired power stations and (c) plant which combines use of bio-mass with existing coal burning to reduce carbon emissions.

Malcolm Wicks: I can confirm that the current consultation of the Renewables Obligation is not looking at either carbon capture and sequestration schemes, carbon abatement retro-fit for existing coal and gas fired power stations or plant which combines use of bio-mass with existing coal burning to reduce carbon emissions.

Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what account he took of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's recommendation, in May 2004, that power-only generation should be excluded from Government funding on efficiency grounds in making his decision to support the WINBEG project proposed to be situated in Winkleigh, Devon; what evidence he has evaluated that demonstrates that WINBEG will meet the Department's efficiency criterion; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 13 July 2005
	The Government responded to the RCEP Report in October 2004, rejecting the recommendation that power-only projects should be excluded from Government funding.
	The decision to support the WINBEG project under the Bioenergy Capital Grants Scheme was made in 2003—before the publication of the RCEP Report.
	The WINBEG application included an independent engineers report which covered a number of areas, including the conversion efficiency. The application was independently assessed against a published range of criteria.

Royal Lancashire Show

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much funding was given via the North West Development Agency (NWDA) to the Royal Lancashire Show in (a) 2003, (b) 2004 and (c) 2005; what future allocations have been agreed for the Royal Lancashire Show by the NWDA; how the money has been spent; and what audit checks are carried out on the money paid.

Alun Michael: The North West Development Agency made a financial contribution to the Royal Lancashire Show in 2003 through the Rural Development Programme of the Lancashire Rural Recovery Partnership. The programme provided a grant of £32,578 towards marketing costs for the show; the staging of a Lancashire produce event; and supporting elements of additional infrastructure.
	Final payment for the grant was not made until satisfactory information on outputs and certified invoices were received, by the Lancashire Rural Recovery Partnership, in March 2004.
	The Agency has made no further financial contribution to the show beyond 2003 and no future funding allocations have been made.

Royal Mail (Misdelivery)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints were made in each of the last five years to his Department by members of the public about the misdelivery of mail by the Royal Mail; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: The Department receives complaints from the public, about Royal Mail services on a regular basis. The Department does not, however, break the correspondence down by type of complaint.
	Postwatch is responsible for handling complaints from the public where the complainant is not satisfied with the response he or she has received from Royal Mail.
	Postwatch's annual reports contain a detailed breakdown, by type, of the complaints that they receive. Copies of Postwatch reports can be found on their website www.postwatch.co.uk

Royal Mail (Misdelivery)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff employed by Royal Mail were (a) charged with and (b) convicted of failure to deliver post in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Barry Gardiner: This is an operational matter for Royal Mail plc and the chief executive has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Royal Mail (Misdelivery)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many items of mail were delivered to the wrong address by the Royal Mail in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: This is an operational mater for Royal Mail plc. and the Chief Executive has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Royal Mail (Misdelivery)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Royal Mail staff were (a) charged with and (b) convicted of theft of mail in each of the last five years.

Barry Gardiner: This is an operational matter for Royal Mail plc. and the Chief Executive has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Security Breaches

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff in his Department have (a) received official warnings and (b) faced disciplinary procedures following breaches of security in each year since 1997.

Alan Johnson: The information is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of warnings issued Other disciplinary penalty imposed 
		
		
			 2004 7 1 
			 2003 11 0 
			 2002 7 1 
			 2001 8 1 
			 2000 7 0 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures for years prior to 2000 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Stadco

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance his Department's Rover Task Force can provide to Stadco in Shrewsbury.

Ian Pearson: The Stadco Group has benefited from the wage replacement scheme established by the MG Rover Taskforce.
	The Department and AWM are in discussion with the company but, as the Shrewsbury plant is located outside the assisted area, further assistance is limited by European State Aid rules.

Stallion Military Vehicles

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the export of Stallion (4x4), Mark3 and Mark 4, military vehicles manufactured by Ashok Leyland requires a licence; whether they are classified as category ML6A; and whether Ashok Leyland has ever applied for a rating for these vehicles from the technical assessment unit at the Export Control Organisation.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 14 July 2005
	From the information available on the company website, it appears these vehicles are specially designed for military use and therefore potentially require an export or trade licence under ML6a of the UK's Military Control list. An export licence would only be required if the goods were exported from the UK, and a trade licence would only be required for the transfer of the goods between third countries if there were some UK involvement, as defined in the relevant legislation. An actual rating and licensing decision will be made on a case by case basis.
	It is not our practice to comment on inquiries to ECO by exporters as this is commercial confidential.

Two Roof Strategy

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Tradeand Industry if he will make a statement on his Department's two roof strategy.

Alan Johnson: The two roof programme is a ground breaking change programme to rationalise our central London estate and transform the way we use our workspace. This core element of the DTI's Efficiency Programme offers a new and radical approach to workspace utilisation and will allow the Department to reduce its accommodation by approximately 30 per cent. Starting in 1 Victoria Street, the accommodation is being remodelled as part of a wider change programme to support team based desking in a flexible, open plan working environment on the basis of providing on average eight desks for every 10 people to be accommodated. This has enabled us to increase the capacity of our main HQ building from 1,680 under the original, traditional approach to approximately 2,400 now and to release other buildings on the estate for reuse or disposal. This highly successful change programme will now be applied to the rest of our London accommodation.

US-UK Technology Transfer

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to improve technology transfer between the US and the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 4 July 2005
	DTI has supported the Cambridge Massachusetts Institute of Technology Institute (CMI) in a £65.1 million project which is developing models for university/business collaboration. The Department is committed to evaluating, CMI's work, and is working with CMI and its stakeholders to identify opportunities for CMI to compete for further funds to help sustain and develop its key activities, and to disseminate models for Knowledge Exchange.
	In the DTI's Five Year Programme the Government announced its intention to provide £6 million to support new work with high-tech clusters in the US.

Vision Boards

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many vision boards have constitutions.

Alun Michael: The local vision boards established so far do not have a formal status, they are informal partnerships. They are expected to establish clear objectives, roles and responsibilities and simple governance and operational arrangements. This is a similar model to that which has successfully served many SRB and other informal partnerships over the years.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what definition of electrical waste he uses in relation to implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government expect to implement the definition of WEEE used in the Directive;
	'WEEE' means electrical or electronic equipment (EEE) which is waste within the meaning of Article 1(a) of Directive 75/442/EEC, including all components, subassemblies and consumables which are part of the product at the time of discarding".
	The Directive states that
	'EEE' means equipment which is dependent on electric currents or electromagnetic fields in order to work properly and equipment for the generation, transfer and measurement of such currents and fields falling under the categories set out in Annex 1A (of the Directive) and designed for use with a voltage rating not exceeding 1,000 Volt for alternating current and 1,500 Volt for direct current".
	The scope of EEE covered by the Regulations implementing the WEEE Directive will be as set out in Annex 1B of the Directive.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether batteries and battery-operated goods are within the remit of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government do not consider that batteries are included in the scope of the WEEE Directive. However, a wide range of battery operated electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) is within the scope of the Directive. The Directive provides that where assemblies, such as batteries, are fixed inside EEE when it is discarded, they will be deemed to be part of the equipment.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  whether retailers will be required to (a) maintain a register of all electronic and electrical items returned to their store and (b) insist on the consumer producing the old good before selling a new electrical or electronic product under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive;
	(2)  at what quantity retailers most dispose of their store of returned goods under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive; and whether this will involve the retailer (a) paying for the goods to be collected by a registered disposal firm and (b) depositing the goods at a registered collection point;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the costs to retailers of complying with the EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive;
	(4)  whether his Department has carried out a small business regulatory impact assessment on the proposals for Environment Agency fees relating to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive;
	(5)  what discussions the Department has had with companies retailing electrical and electronic equipment on reducing waste arising from such equipment.

Malcolm Wicks: The WEEE Directive requires that retailers provide free take-back of WEEE they collect in-store. The Government are developing its implementation planning for the Directive in order to offer retailers several options for how they can take back the household WEEE they collect.
	The Government obtained flexibility for UK retailers to discharge their obligations under the WEEE Directive. Retailers will have a choice to comply either by (i) offering take-back services in-store to consumers; or (ii) by showing membership of an approved compliance scheme which will support an alternative national network of facilities for separate collection of household WEEE. This flexibility enables retailers to provide alternatives to the in-store take back provision set out in the Directive. In addition, the Government announced in March this year that it would delay implementation of the Directive to January 2006. The course the Government have taken will provide cost savings to retailers compared to the estimates from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) of £200-£500 million per annum for in-store take back. Ultimately the costs to retailers will depend on the retailer's choice of compliance and the volume of WEEE returned to them. The Government are proposing to implement the WEEE Directive with as little disruption as possible to current retailer practices, while achieving the environmental aims of the Directive.
	The Government have had extensive discussions with many retailers on implementation of the Directive. It has encouraged the BRC to develop proposals for a retail compliance scheme to provide a national collection network, including funding upgrades to civic amenity sites' facilities for separate collection of WEEE. The BRC has proposed a fund for a retail compliance scheme of some £8.2 million over the three years to 2008 to upgrade all civic amenity sites in the UK, including funds to maintain the infrastructure over the same period.
	Where retailers choose to comply with their obligation by offering in-store take back services, they will be expected to do this on a one-to-one" basis, as the Directive requires. This means when selling new equipment they will have to take back equipment of a similar type or fulfilling an equivalent function as the new equipment being supplied.
	It is not expected that there will be a requirement on retailers to register all items of WEEE collected in this way; or that retailers would have to store WEEE only up to a certain, stipulated quantity.
	Retailers choosing to provide in-store take-back services would be expected to store WEEE they collect according to the requirements of the Directive to optimise its potential re-use or recycling and recovery. This should include providing for any necessary storage on hard standing and weather-proofing, as required by the Directive.
	The Government published a Regulatory Impact Assessment with its consultation paper of 24 May 2005 on proposed Environment Agency fees related to the WEEE Directive. This is available at: http://www.dti.gov.uk/sustainability/weee/WEEE_fees_RIA.pdf

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive, retailers will be required to store goods returned to them on site.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 12 July 2005
	The WEEE Directive requires that retailers provide free take-back of WEEE they collect in-store. The Government are developing its implementation planning for the Directive in order to offer retailers several options for how they can take back the household WEEE they collect.
	The Government obtained flexibility for UK retailers to discharge their obligations under the WEEE Directive. Retailers will have a choice to comply either by (i) offering take-back services in-store to consumers; or (ii) by showing membership of an approved compliance scheme which will support an alternative national network of facilities for separate collection of household WEEE. This flexibility enables retailers to provide alternatives to the in-store take back provision set out in the Directive. In addition, the Government announced in March this year that it would delay implementation of the Directive to January 2006. The course the Government have taken will provide cost savings to retailers compared to the estimates from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) of £200-£500 million per annum for in-store take back. Ultimately the costs to retailers will depend on the retailer's choice of compliance and the volume of WEEE returned to them. The Government are proposing to implement the WEEE Directive with as little disruption as possible to current retailer practises, while achieving the environmental aims of the Directive.

Wind Farm (Redcar)

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  who will make the final decision on the proposed development of an offshore wind farm at Redcar; what criteria will be used to make the decision; and what procedures will be followed;
	(2)  what account will be taken of objections registered to the proposed offshore wind farm at Redcar in the process of a decision being reached on whether to permit the proposed development;
	(3)  what opportunities the objectors to the proposed wind farm at Redcar will have to make representations to the authority responsible for deciding whether to proceed with the project prior to the decision being taken;
	(4)  whether the proposal to build an offshore wind farm at Redcar will be subject to a (a) public inquiry and (b) other public hearing.

Malcolm Wicks: The wind farm off Redcar will require a suite of statutory consents before it can be built, principally under the Electricity Act 1989, the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 and the Coast Protection Act 1949. My right hon. Friend theSecretary of State for Trade and Industry will take decisions in respect of the consent application made under the Electricity Act: my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will take the decisions about consent applications made under the Food and Environment Protection Act and the Coast Protection Act.
	Both my right hon. Friend the Secretaries of State will consider carefully all the representations that have been submitted in respect of the application and they will also take into account national policy considerations, including the target to generate 10 per cent. of electricity by renewable sources in 2010.
	No decisions have yet been taken in respect of the determination of the consent applications. The options under the Electricity Act will be to accept the application, to reject it or to call a public inquiry to consider the issues further.

Working-time Regulations

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the impact of ECJ case C-484/04, 2005/C 31/16, of OJ C31 of 5 February, on voluntary opt-outs of the 48-hour week regulations, with particular reference to civil servants; and what representations he has received thereon.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Pursuant to my answer of 26 May 2005, Official Report, column 176W, to the hon. Member, the Infraction Case in question is still on-going so it would not be appropriate to make an assessment of the impact at this time. The Department receives many representations on the working time directive and related issues but I am not aware of any representations on this specific issue.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Support Agency

George Mudie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on progress in the transfer of cases from the old Child Support Agency payment system to the new system.

James Plaskitt: No bulk transfer has taken place yet. It can only do so once the case information on file is cleaned and the computer system is stable. Work to secure those conditions is in hand.
	Of 680,000 new scheme applications, 260,000 are still to be cleared. There are in addition 78,000 old scheme cases, still to be cleared, down from 130,000 a year ago.
	Both these issues—transfers and backlogs—underline the scale of the problems in the agency. This is why we asked the Chief Executive to carry out a strategic review. His findings will be presented to us over the coming months and we will report to the House in due course.

Child Support Agency

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the operation of the Child Support Agency.

James Plaskitt: The operations standard is not where we want it to be. The Chief Executive is reviewing the Agency's operations and structures. He will report his findings and set out his proposals to improve the Agency's performance to us over the coming months.
	Despite all the well known problems, the agency's staff are working hard and doing a good job in difficult circumstances helping to give financial support to over half a million children. They are doing a tough job with sensitivity. They like us, and like the agency's clients want to see the CSA reach an acceptable operational standard.

Child Support Agency

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the future of the Child Support Agency.

James Plaskitt: The Chief Executive is reviewing the Agency's operations and structures. His work is advanced. He will report his findings and set out his proposals to improve the Agency's performance to us over the coming months. We will obviously report to the House in due course.

Construction Industry

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Executive on safety and health in the construction industry.

Anne McGuire: My noble Friend the Lord Hunt, has met with officials from HSE since his appointment in May this year, to discuss matters concerning the construction industry. My hon. friend also visited two Birmingham construction sites with an HSE Inspector on 10 June and is scheduled to visit the Constructing Better Health initiative in September.

Pensions (Investment)

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to encourage people under 30-years-old to invest in their pensions.

Stephen Timms: We want people to be aware of the need for pension saving from an early age, so that younger people get into the habit of saving. We are supporting the Financial Services Authority's financial capability strategy, which includes a young adults working group, and the guidance published last week to encourage employers to practise auto-enrolment into good occupational schemes should also help younger employees.

Pensions (Investment)

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on compulsion in pension saving.

Stephen Timms: The Government have asked the Pensions Commission to examine the case for compulsory pension saving.
	Our aim is to build a national consensus on a long-term solution to the challenge of adequate provision of income in retirement.

Debt Management

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the reorganisation of his Department's debt management section.

James Plaskitt: Debt Management was established in April 2001 to bring increased focus to the management control and recovery of benefit debt owed to the Department.
	To enable this, work has been transferred from 127 sites across the country to the 10 dedicated debt centres. This has been completed within agreed timescales and to budget.
	The new IT system that has been developed to support the organisation is currently being rolled out to the debt centres, completion expected by the end of July 2005.
	The programme initially focused on overpayment debt for Jobcentre Plus and the Pensions Service, and is gradually expanding to take on Disability and Carer's Service debt and Social Fund recovery where the recipient is no longer in receipt of benefit. The extension into these areas is expected to be completed by February 2006.
	The organisation also assists local authorities with the recovery of housing benefit and council tax benefit debt.

Women's Pensions

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures he intends to take to tackle pension inequality for women.

Stephen Timms: We have not ignored the issue of women and pensions since we came to office. Pension credit is contributing to tackling the legacy of inequality. Measures such as state second pension, improving opportunities for women in the work place and increasing options for pension flexibility have all contributed to increasing pension entitlement for women.
	We want to continue to make progress. Fair outcomes for women and carers is one of our principles for pension reform and will be one of the key factors on which proposals for reform will be judged. To help this develop our thinking, we will be holding an event later this year to discuss how to make the pensions system work well for women. Prior to this event, to aid discussion we will publish our analysis of the pension position of women.

Pension Protection Fund

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last met the board of the Pension Protection Fund to discuss its operation.

Stephen Timms: I met the Board of PPF when I visited the PPF office in Croydon on 18 May 2005, as well as meeting on a number of occasions with the Chair and Chief Executive.
	A Memorandum of Understanding between the Department, the PPF and the Pensions Regulator has been signed recently and establishes a framework for cooperation between the Department and the two new non-departmental public bodies. It clearly shows that while the Department has no responsibilities or direct involvement in the operational activities of the Pensions Regulator or the PPF—it does have a stewardship role in both bodies.

Pension Fund Trustees

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to support individuals who assume responsibility as trustees of pension funds.

Stephen Timms: Trustees do a vital job in the management of occupational pensions.
	As a result of the measures introduced in the Pensions Act 2004 trustees will—for the first time—have access to support in their work through codes of practice issued by the Pensions Regulator. My predecessor asked the Pensions Management Institute to assist in co-ordinating a new trustees' Forum. I am looking forward to the first meeting of the Forum next week

Pension Fund Trustees

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures his Department is taking to encourage more people to become pension fund trustees.

Stephen Timms: We want to encourage pension scheme members being actively involved in the running of their own pension scheme.
	Legislation already gives members the opportunity to get involved in the running of their schemes through member-nominated trustees. From April 2006 all schemes will include one-third member-nominated trustees, as the employer's ability to opt out of these provisions will be removed.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Former Soviet Union

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on progress by G8 countries in assisting with the destruction of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons in former USSR countries.

Kim Howells: I have been asked to reply.
	The hon. Member can find a full report on the G8's Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction and its practical efforts to reduce the risks of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including progress on the various projects to date at the G8 website. This report can be found at
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/ PostG8_Gleneagles_GPWGAnnualReport2005.pdf
	and the annex with project data at
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/ PostG8_Gleneagles_GPWGAnnualReportAnnex2005.pdf.
	The UK's second annual report on its progress underthe Global Partnership is available at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/nuclear/fsu/news/Second_ annual_report.pdf.

Infant Mortality

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the top five causes of infant mortality in the third world in the last five years for which figures are available; how many infants died from each cause a year on average in that period; and what estimate he has made of the average cost of treating one infant affected by each such cause.

Gareth Thomas: Specific data on infant mortality (first year of life) are unreliable given the lack of effective vital statistics systems. Data collection is further compromised by the fact that about half of the women in developing countries deliver at home, without links to the health system. However, data is much more robust on deaths of children under 5 years.
	Each year, 11 million children under 5 years die of acute respiratory infections (19 per cent.); diarrhoea (18 per cent.); malaria (8 per cent.) measles (4 per cent.). However, 40 per cent. of all deaths in children under 5years occur within the first 28 days.
	Three quarters of these, 4 million neonatal deaths, occur within the first week of life. Three main causes are severe infections (26 per cent.) (including sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis); premature births (28 per cent.) and birth asphyxia (23 per cent.).
	Making every mother and child count" (The World Health Organisation 2005), provides costs for the provision of skilled attendants, support with the instruction of breastfeeding, vaccinations, combating diarrhoea, pneumonia, sepsis and malaria, as well as prevention and care for HIV. The report identifies a set of costings with differing assumptions and scenarios for the 75 countries that together account for almost 95 per cent. of global child deaths (refer to www.who.int/whr). The costing of saving a child's life differs by country and there is no global figure available.
	Underlying causes of these child deaths include poverty, with malnutrition and lack of clean water accounting for at least half of the mortality. Weak health systems that cannot ensure access to reproductive health services, including skilled attendants at birth, impact on child health outcomes—we know that babies born to mothers who die in childbirth are unlikely to survive their first year. Poor health and nutrition of adolescent girls has significant long-term effects on their health and the survival of their newborns.

Millennium Development Goals

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he plans to take (a) to raise the profile of disability in the Millennium Development Goals review and (b) to ensure that disabled people are specifically included in the implementation of Millennium Development Goals.

Hilary Benn: It is essential to recognise and address the rights and needs of disabled people in order to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
	The UK is committed to ensuring the Millennium Review Summit recognises the need for special attention to the human rights of excluded groups, such as disabled people. DFID will advocate an inclusive approach to development, which respects the rights of all and ensures that everybody can actively participate in development. The approach at the summit of bringing development and rights together in the same outcome document should help to highlight these issues.
	DFID's focus on the MDGs helps disabled people as well as non-disabled people. However, targets are not sufficient and the implementation of the MDGs and development programmes must also work to shape more inclusive poverty reduction initiatives. DFID works with governments to develop their Poverty Reduction Strategies, and this provides the opportunity to address issues of exclusion and discrimination with partners. DFID also provides support to initiatives directly aimed at supporting disabled people in developing countries. DFID currently funds 23 disability focused projects and a £1.4 million Knowledge and Research programme on disability and development.

United Nations Population Fund

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effects of the United Nations Population Fund on non-coercive approaches to family planning in China.

Gareth Thomas: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the largest UN provider of reproductive health assistance to developing countries and countries in transition. It is an influential advocate for gender equality, women's empowerment and sexual and reproductive health and rights. In 2003, the UK was the fourth largest provider of core resources. For 2004–07 the UK has committed £80 million in core funding.
	UK assistance for sexual and reproductive health anywhere in the world is provided in support of the principles of free and informed choice set out at the International Conference on Population Development in Cairo in 1994, and re-affirmed through various international fora since. These principles reject coercion in matters relating to childbearing and reproduction and support the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. It is important that this work should continue and that all people be given access to modern services, and the chance to choose their family size. Apart from DFID providing core funding to the UNFPA globally, we are not providing direct or targeted support for family planning in China.
	The UNFPA works in China to support change and reform. The programme is making a full range of client-oriented reproductive health services available in 32 counties on a voluntary basis. Birth targets and quotas have been abolished and abortion and sterilisation rates and maternal mortality have all dropped significantly in UNFPA counties. These findings were produced by independent research carried out by the University of Southampton and the China Population Information and Research Centre and paid for by DFID China. The UNFPA's programme in China will continue to promote reform and the adoption of a programme based on principles of voluntary choice and rights.
	The UK believes the UNFPA deserves strong support to pursue these activities—thereby contributing to reaching the millennium development goals, particularly those related to HIV/AIDS, maternal health and child mortality.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

BBC Broadcast/Trust

Frank Doran: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport what criteria she will apply in determining whether to approve the sale of BBC Broadcast to Creative Broadcast Services.

James Purnell: holding answer 12 July 2005
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's assessment will be limited largely to determining whether the BBC has followed the appropriate process in reaching its decision to sell BBC Broadcast, and in applying for ministerial approval.

BBC Broadcast/Trust

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make it her policy to ensure that the proposed BBC Trust is (a) representative of the population, (b) democratically accountable and (c) transparent in its operations; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: The decision to establish a BBC Trust to replace the BBC Board of Governors was set out in the Government's Green Paper on the BBC Charter Review, published in March 2005. The public consultation on the Green Paper closed on 31 May 2005 and the results are currently being analysed; the findings will help to inform the Government White Paper on the BBC Charter Review, to be published later this year.
	Specific questions were asked in the public consultation about the potential membership of the Trust; options to improve accountability to licence fee payers; and how to ensure openness and transparency in the Trust's actions. The Government will consider the responses to the consultation before making final decisions on the detail. However, greater accountability to licence fee payers and increased transparency in the BBC's systems of governance and regulation are key themes in the Charter Review Green Paper.

Digital Reception (Rural Areas)

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to increase the availability of digital radio and television services in rural areas.

James Purnell: Digital terrestrial coverage at switchover will match existing analogue coverage—around 98.5 per cent. of households.
	While the vast majority of households not currently covered by analogue services can already receive digital television via satellite, cable or DSL, there are still a few areas in which reception is very poor. Therefore, we are considering with Ofcom how to extend further the reach of digital television.
	Currently BBC and commercial DAB radio broadcast to around 85 per cent. of the UK population. Ofcom are considering proposals for the allocation of three further local multiplexes that will provide coverage to almost all of the UK, as well as a digital platform for the remaining BBC regional and local services. The BBC have also committed to ensuring their national DAB networks will cover at least 90 per cent. of the population over the period of the next charter. Digital radio services are also available on all of the digital television platforms.

English Heritage

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many of the recommendations made to her by English Heritage for listing in the last three years she has (a) accepted and (b) rejected.

David Lammy: A central record is not kept of the number of recommendations for listing that are rejected. In the last three years, English Heritage have made 1,820 recommendations to list buildings. It is possible that some of the buildings recommended for listing during this period are still being considered.
	During the same period, 1,281 buildings have been added to the statutory list, although some of these may have been recommended for listing earlier.

English Heritage

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many sites of (a) Roman interest and (b) significance to the period of the (i) second world war and (ii) the cold war English Heritage has asked to be listed in the last three years.

David Lammy: In the past three years, English Heritage has recommended one building of Roman interest for listing.
	No central records are kept of the number of buildings recommended that are of second world war or cold war interest. However, within the last three years English Heritage has completed a thematic review of military aviation buildings, which has led to 261 buildings being recommended for listing, many of which played a role during the second world war. During the same period, English Heritage has also completed a thematic review of cold war buildings, which has resulted in five buildings being recommended for listing.

Licensing Act

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport when she intends to lay the statutory instrument for the nomination of the second appointed day under the Licensing Act 2003 before Parliament.

James Purnell: We intend to lay the Order setting the second appointed day, following our recent commitment that this date will be 24 November, very soon.

Licensing Act

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department has taken to ensure that public house licensees are aware of the 6 August deadline to re-apply for their licence to serve alcohol.

James Purnell: My Department is making every effort to make all affected individuals and businesses aware of their responsibilities under the Licensing Act 2003.
	These efforts have included a regular newsletter which has been used as the basis for National Pubwatch articles since August 2004; an improved licensing section on my Department's website; a letter through the courts to all alcohol licence holders at renewal in 2004; and a trade and ethnic press campaign including 28 advertisements aimed at independent operators.
	The publicity campaign is now being stepped up as the 6 August deadline approaches. Over the last week, my Department has sent out 180,000 leaflets for distribution through suppliers to the licensed trade, wholesalers, and cash and carries.

Licensing Act

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her latest assessment is of the impact on the viability of village halls of the introduction of the new licensing regime.

James Purnell: The reform of the licensing regime will benefit village halls in the long-term by removing the need to apply for several licences and permissions. This will allow them to offer a wide range of activities to localcommunities under a single licence. Costs and bureaucracy will also be reduced—not least, because village halls will only incur licence fees where events include the sale of alcohol. The vast majority of village halls will pay no more than £190 on initial application, and £180 as an annual fee.
	I met representatives of Action with Communities in Rural England on 12 July to discuss the concerns of village halls. My Department will shortly issue a public consultation document on the limit for temporary event notices allowed per year, and I fully expect the Independent Fees Review Panel to consider the concerns of village halls in detail.

Licensing Act

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the effects of people not applying for licences on time under the Licensing Act 2003.

James Purnell: The latest available estimates show that 33 per cent. of the total of licence holders expected to apply have already done so. This percentage is rising rapidly as the 6 August deadline for conversion approaches.
	All premises operating under the Act must have a licence granted by 24 November which is the second appointed day. My Department together with LACORS and the LGA are making every effort to ensure that licence holders are made fully aware of their responsibilities, and I remain confident that organisations will respond.

Licensing Act

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance the Government have issued to councils, relating to the Licensing Act 2003, on councillors considering licensing applications that originate from their own ward; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: Central Government have not issued any advice to councils on councillors considering licensing applications that originate from their own ward. There is nothing in the Licensing Act 2003 or the guidance that we issued under section 182 of the Act or the associated regulations that prevents a ward councillor from sitting on a licensing sub-committee considering representations in respect of premises in his or her own ward. However, like all of us who have been elected to public office, councillors do have to promote and maintain high standards of conduct, ethics and propriety. Any advice that councillors receive on this issue would come from their own internal advisers and standards committees. The advice will generally be identical to that which applies to all committees carrying out local authority functions. Ultimately, the decision as to whether any councillor should disqualify himself or herself from participation in any individual case would be a matter for him or her. Such decisions would normally be subject to scrutiny by the local authority's standards committee.

Licensing Act

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions the Government have had with the Standards Board for England in relation to the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003.

James Purnell: None. Issues about propriety and the ethical behaviour of members of licensing committees are governed by the same standards as any other local government committee.

Listed Buildings/Sites

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance she has issued on the (a) conservation, (b) restoration and (c) use of listed buildings.

David Lammy: Government policy in relation to the historic environment is set out in planning policy guidance note 15 (Planning and the Historic Environment) and planning policy guidance note 16 (Archaeology and Planning). Further information in relation to listed buildings is available on the DCMS website www.culture.gov.uk

Listed Buildings/Sites

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received on improper use of listed buildings in (a) Kingston and Surbiton, (b) South West London, (c) London and (d) England.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not aware of any representations regarding the improper use of listed buildings.

Listed Buildings/Sites

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the number of listed buildings in (a) Kingston and Surbiton, (b) South West London, (c) London and (d) England; and how many in each case are in use.

David Lammy: There are 153 list entries in relation to properties within the Royal borough of Kingston-upon-Thames, 2,550 for properties in South West London, 18,515 for properties in Greater London, and 372,130 for properties in England. Each list entry may include more than one building. No records are held centrally of whether listed buildings are in use.

Listed Buildings/Sites

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) buildings, (b) sites and(c) parks in Chorley are listed; and if she will list those assessed as requiring (i) restoration and (ii)conservation.

David Lammy: There are 54 list entries relating to listed buildings in Chorley, 11 scheduled ancient monuments, and five registered parks and gardens. Each list entry may relate to more than one building.
	The following four listed buildings in Chorley appear on the Buildings at Risk Register:
	Buckshaw Hall, off Euxton Lane, Euxton, Chorley
	Bank Hall, Liverpool Road, Bretherton, Chorley
	Lower Burgh Hall, Coppull New Road, Chorley
	Great Barn West of Hoghton Tower, Chorley

Listed Buildings/Sites

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many swimming pools in England are listed; and what the process is for listing swimming pools.

David Lammy: There are 94 list entries relating to swimming pools and swimming pool related buildings in England.
	The criteria for listing buildings under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 are set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 15: Planning and the Historic Environment (PPG15).

Olympics 2012

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State forCulture, Media and Sport what steps she plans to take to minimise the carbon footprint of the 2012 Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: Achieving a sustainable games was a strong element of London's bid for the 2012 Olympics. A key part of London 2012's plans, as set out in Theme 5 of their Candidate File, was for a low carbon" games.
	Venues will be designed to optimise energy efficiency and to make use of low carbon and renewable energy sources. All spectators will travel to the games by public transport, or by cycling or walking. The vehicles for the Olympic family will comply with strict low-emission standards.
	There will also be a comprehensive carbon-offset programme to neutralise" all the unavoidable carbon emissions caused by overseas participants travelling to the games in 2012, as well as the organisation's own staff travel during the preparation phase, by supporting the installation of renewable energy projects in developing countries.

Olympics 2012

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether security costs were included in the estimates made for the London Olympic bid; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: Security costs were included in the financial estimates made as part of the bidding process. £23 million has been allocated to the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) budget—as laid out in table 6.6.1 of London 2012's candidate file. This amount includes funding for the equipment, planning, co-ordination and training and law enforcement resources.
	A further allowance of £190 million has been made from the stakeholders funding package of £2.375 billion for the wider security costs required to address security needs when we stage the games in 2012.

Olympics 2012

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will publish a full economic cost benefit analysis for the UK of the successful London Olympic bid.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 13 July 2005
	We have commissioned such an analysis and shall publish it in due course.

Olympics 2012

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to seek changes in the law to permit the ownership and use of certain types of handgun to permit the full range of competition at the London Olympics 2012; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: The Home Office do not propose to repeal the ban on the private possession of handguns. Special arrangements will be put in place to allow pistol shooting events at the 2012 Olympics as happened at the 2002 Commonwealth games. These arrangements will include a warm up event if this is deemed necessary.

Olympics 2012

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the number of skilled construction workers required to work on preparations for London 2012.

Tessa Jowell: The outline planning application for the Olympic park estimates that 7,000 construction workers will be needed to help deliver the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We expect the major construction work in the East End of London in the run up to 2012 to provide the stimulus for a long-term positive impact on the construction industry in the UK.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the programme to build capacity in the justice sector in Afghanistan; and what impact this is having on United Kingdom efforts to counter narcotics and related crop growing.

Kim Howells: The creation and consolidation of a national Afghan government and institutions, including those for justice, will be the key to establishing long-term stability and security. After nearly three decades of war, these institutions needed to be created from scratch.
	The UK is the G8 lead nation on counter narcotics and is working in support of the Afghan Government's eight pillar 2005 implementation plan, of which criminal justice is a key pillar.
	Sustainable drug elimination strategies take time—particularly when the challenges are as severe as those in Afghanistan.

Departmental Bills

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Bills were sponsored by his Department in each Session since 1979.

Jack Straw: Providing information for the entire period requested would incur disproportionate costs.
	Since 1997, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has been responsible for the following legislation (Bills that have been enacted are described as Acts):
	2005
	International Organisations Act
	European Union Bill
	2003
	Arms Control and Disarmament (Inspections) Act
	European Union (Accessions) Act
	2002
	British Overseas Territories Act
	Commonwealth Act
	European Communities (Amendment) Act
	2001
	International Criminal Court Act
	1998
	European Communities (Amendment) Act
	Nuclear Explosions (Prohibition and Inspections) Act.

Burma

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of whether Burma possesses (a) uranium and (b) antimony deposits; and whether processing of Burmese (i) uranium and (ii) antimony takes place in (A) Burma, (B) China, (C) North Korea, (D) Russia and (E) elsewhere.

Kim Howells: According to reputable public sources, there are both uranium and antimony deposits in Burma.
	Uranium is processed in China, North Korea and Russia, as well as in a number of other countries, but not in Burma.
	Antimony has a range of commercial applications, and its processing and use is not under any form of international control. As far as we are aware, antimony is mined but not further processed in Burma, and is processed in China, North Korea and Russia, as well as in a number of other countries.

Correspondence

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Carmarthen, East and Dinefwr of 15 June on ministerial circulation of legal advisers' briefings.

Kim Howells: As the hon. Member requested, we are considering the question under the Freedom of Information Act. A letter has been sent to the hon. Member confirming that we will reply to his question by 29 July. This is an extension of 10 working days beyond our original target date for replying to him. This extra time is needed in order to make a determination as to the public interest in releasing the information requested.

Departmental Advertising

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the Department spent on advertising in each of the last five years.

Jack Straw: Our records show that advertising costs in the last five financial years are as follows.
	
		£
		
			  Recruitment advertising Diversity advertising Other Total 
		
		
			 2001–02 803,745.38 203,050 13,794.52 1,020,589.90 
			 2002–03 587,936.18 183,109 39,786 810,831.18 
			 2003–04 391,674.91 156,844 62,460.37 610,979.28 
			 2004–05 226,458.35 227,095 24,331.63 477,884.98 
			 2005–06 (to date) 112,106 91,915 Nil 204,021 
		
	
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's overseas posts and its non-departmental public bodies (NDPB) also incur costs. Collating this information would involve contacting each individual overseas posts and individual sponsoring departments of NDPBs. Sponsoring departments would then have to contact each NDPB for details. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Developing Countries

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made with the promotion of best practice in parliamentary scrutiny in developing countries.

Ian Pearson: Work to strengthen parliamentary institutions is a significant element of the UK's foreign policy, including in developing countries. Legislative assemblies have a key role in overseeing the action of Governments. We have supported work in this area in many countries, including Uganda, where the UK has supported an Office for Parliamentary Development; in Nigeria, where the UK is supporting a broad-based package aimed at strengthening the National Assembly; and support to parliamentary oversight bodies, e.g. Public Accounts Committees, in, among others, Sierra Leone and Malawi.

Equatorial Guinea

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a UK Government Minister last visited Equatorial Guinea; and when the next such visit is planned.

Ian Pearson: We have no record of any visit by a UK Government Minister to Equatorial Guinea. There are no present plans for a visit.

Equatorial Guinea

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the number of UK workers in Equatorial Guinea; and in which sectors they are working.

Ian Pearson: We estimate that there are approximately 400 British workers currently employed in Equatorial Guinea, the majority engaged in support to companies in the oil and gas sector.

Equatorial Guinea

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects Equatorial Guinea's ambassador to the UK to be presented.

Ian Pearson: The Equatorial Guinean ambassador presented his credentials on 14 July 2005.

Equatorial Guinea

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the most recent elections held in Equatorial Guinea.

Ian Pearson: The most recent elections in Equatorial Guinea were the municipal and legislative elections inApril 2004. An EU statement was made following these, which the UK supported. This document can be found at http://europa.eu int/abc/doc/off/bull/en/200406/pl06022.htm.

Equatorial Guinea

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to meet Equatorial Guinea's ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Ian Pearson: The Equatorial Guinean ambassador presented his credentials on 14 July 2005. He has not yet sought an appointment with Ministers. We will consider each request on its merits.

Iran

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 183W, on Iran, whether the information received has now been verified; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British embassy in Tehran have both made efforts to verify claims of the disappearance of Ebdal Karimi. We have not been able to do so because we do not have sufficiently detailed information. We note that the original information was provided by an Iranian opposition group that is often not a reliable source. Without further information we are unlikely to be able to verify the claims.

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of reports of the mistreatment and torture of detainees by Iraqi security forces; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: We condemn all forms of abuse. Where we have suspicions or evidence of abuse by Iraqi security forces we take immediate action to raise our concerns at the highest level with the Iraqi Government. They have said that they will not tolerate abuse and that they will investigate anyone suspected of abuse and prosecute where evidence substantiates those suspicions.

Israel

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2005, Official Report, column 650W, on Israel, whether the Government of Israel has informed him that it has withdrawn demolition orders already issued in respect of Silwan Village in east Jerusalem.

Kim Howells: No such information has been received from the Israeli Government. However, we understand that the demolitions have been put on hold. UK officials in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem continue to monitor developments.

Israel

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to establish an international monitoring presence in the occupied territories to ensure that both Israelis and Palestinians are fulfilling their obligations to the road map; and if he will ensure that plans for such a presence have (a) an explicit human rights component and (b) a timetable for implementation.

Kim Howells: The international community is well aware of the failings on both sides in implementing their roadmap commitments. In particular, Israel has not frozen settlement expansion and the Palestinian Authority has not adequately tackled terrorism. No international presence could ensure better implementation without the full support of both sides.
	The international community is however closely involved in disengagement, with the parties agreement. Quartet (UN, US, EU and Russia) Special Envoy for Disengagement James Wolfensohn is working in co-ordination with the parties and with US security co-ordinator General William Ward, and with the support of the international community.
	Israeli withdrawal of all settlements from Gaza and of four from the northern West Bank, plus reformed Palestinian institutions, should help enable both sides to make continued progress in meeting their roadmap commitments.

Israel

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the government of Israel for the release from house arrest of Mordechai Vanunu.

Kim Howells: My right hon. and noble Friend the former Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean) raised our concerns with the Israeli Charge" d'Affaires following Mr. Vanunu's release in April 2004, as did our ambassador in Tel Aviv with the Israeli Government. We have since raised the issue with the Israeli Government on numerous occasions
	We are aware that Mr. Vanunu was indicted on 17 March for violating the terms of his release from prison and that this has resulted in a further year's extension of the restrictions previously imposed on him. We recognise that Israel has a right to protect its national interest but we are concerned that the restrictions may be excessive and punitive. Our embassy in Tel Aviv will continue to monitor his case closely.

Management Consultants

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's total spending on management consultants has been in each of the last three years.

Jack Straw: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on external consultancy in general on 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 134W. Expenditure specifically on management consultancy is not categorised separately and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Middle East

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he expects that aid promised by the G8 summit to the Palestinian Authority will be received by (a) Hamas-led administrations and (b) Hamas mayors, with particular reference to the Hamas mayors in (i) Kalkiya, (ii) Hebron, (iii) Bethlehem, (iv) Rafah and (v) Beit Lahia.

Kim Howells: The G8 summit announced support for the quartet-appointed (UN, US, EU and Russia) special envoy for disengagement James Wolfensohn's intention to stimulate a global financial contribution of up to $3 billion per year over the next three years. Mr.Wolfensohn has indicated that the aid would be spent on a range of infrastructure and job creation schemes in the Gaza strip and northern west bank, to help revitalise the Palestinian economy following the Israeli withdrawal from those areas. The details of how this aid would be distributed have not been finalised. There are no plans for the aid to go directly to Hamas-governed municipalities.
	The Mayor of Bethelehem represents the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
	The Mayors of Rafah, Beit Lahia and Hebron represent the Fatah party.

Middle East

Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take to carry forward the promotion of peace, stability and reform in the Middle East during the UK's presidency of the EU.

Kim Howells: On the Middle East Peace Process, the EU will continue to play, through the Quartet (UN, US, EU and Russia), a key role in supporting the Palestinian Authority's efforts at institutional reform and Prime Minister Sharon's disengagement plan. Stronger Palestinian institutions and a successful disengagement are necessary for Roadmap implementation. For the EuroMed region, November's EuroMed Tenth Anniversary Summit will be a critical opportunity to help the EU's Mediterranean Partners to meet the challenges of the 21st century, including in education, economic reform and good governance. The EU stands ready to support a representative Lebanese Government in carrying out political and economic reforms and calls on Syria to take action to promote regional stability. And we will promote reform and security through our relations with other countries in the region, including through the EU Strategic Partnership with the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

Middle East

Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to bring about the disarmament of Hezbollah forces in Southern Lebanon, in compliance with UN Security Council resolution 1559.

Kim Howells: The disarmament of non-Lebanese and Lebanese militias, including Hezbollah, as required by United Nations Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1559, is a complex issue that will take time to implement. The Government believes that the process of disarming the militias in Lebanon needs to be Lebanese-led, and once the new government of Lebanon is formed we will be discussing with it how the UK and our international partners can assist with the full implementation of UNSCR 1559.

Middle East

Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest estimate is of the threat posed by Hamas to (a) Israeli and (b) Palestinian security.

Kim Howells: Terrorism has caused many innocent casualties, and Hamas has been responsible for numerous attacks. Such actions undermine the efforts of the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority to make progress on the Middle East peace process. They also undermine Palestinian President Abbas' authority and the Palestinian Authority's ability to meet its commitments on security, and economic and political reform made at the London meeting.
	The UK notes the commitment made by Hamas, and other Palestinian groups to President Abbas in Cairo in March to adopt a conditional cease-fire until the end of 2005. The UK calls for Hamas to go further and renounce violence, choosing participatory politics as the only means of working towards a lasting peace in the Middle East.

Middle East

Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest estimate is of the progress made by the Palestinian Authority in reforming its security services in line with commitments made at the London meeting in March.

Kim Howells: Following the pledges made at Sharm el Sheikh on 8 February and the London meeting on 1 March, the Palestinian leadership has made some progress with security reform, but more needs to be done both in order to provide a climate of law and order for the Palestinian people, and to prevent appalling crimes such as the suicide bombing in Netanya. We welcome the progress that has been made, eg the reshuffling of Palestinian Authority (PA) security chiefs in April and the streamlining of the security forces, and we are encouraged by Abu Mazen's commitment to security reform. But much more remains to be done.
	Security co-operation continues with frequent co-ordination meetings between the Israelis and Palestinians. It is vital that this co-operation continues in the run-up to Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and parts of the North West Bank.
	The United States is leading in the efforts to assist the PA in achieving its goals. General William Ward is working with Palestinian officials and we are actively supporting him. We will continue to work to ensure that this reform programme is successful in the longer term.

Middle East

Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of Iran's nuclear programme on future stability in the Middle East following the results of the Iranian Presidential elections.

Kim Howells: The proliferation of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery is a serious threat to international peace and security, in the Middle East and elsewhere. Following an agreement reached in Paris in November 2004, the UK, France and Germany, supported by the EU High Representative, have been in discussion with Iran about long term arrangements for its nuclear programme. These should provide objective guarantees that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes. The new Iranian President elect, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has said the talks will go on. We remain fully committed to the Paris agreement. We continue to honour our commitments, and expect Iran to do likewise.

Middle East

Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest assessment is of progress made by Israel with its disengagement plan.

Kim Howells: Israeli disengagement from Gaza and part of the West Bank is due to start in mid-August. There has been some co-operation between the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority, but there have only been limited agreements so far, e.g. to demolish settler housing inappropriate for the Palestinian population. While this is positive, it is essential that the two sides step up their co-ordination in the coming weeks.
	We welcome the appointment of James Wolfensohn as the Quartet's (UN, US, EU and Russia) Special Envoy for Gaza Disengagement. He is already working with the parties. His goals are the economic revitalisation of Gaza and the West Bank, and to assist with further Palestinian governance reform. G8 leaders on 7 July 2005 endorsed his approach and supported his intention to stimulate a financial contribution of up to $3 billion annually for the next three years from the international community.

North Korea

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of food supplies in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the decision of the World Food Programme to consider suspending its food aid operations there.

Ian Pearson: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Government cut the daily food ration in January so that it now constitutes approximately half the daily energy requirement. Two thirds of the DPRK population remain dependent on this public distribution system. The World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide food aid for 6.5 million people it considers to be in need. This is roughly a quarter of the population. There have been a number of breaks in the supply of food aid, due mainly to fluctuating support from major donors. WFP has not managed to assess the impact of these breaks. Because of DPRK Government restrictions on information sharing, it is difficult to be certain of data on the food situation. As far as we are aware, the WFP has no plans to suspend its food aid operations in the DPRK.

Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 6 July 2005, Official Report, columns 486–87W, on the organisation for the prevention of chemical weapons (OPCW), whether the award to Mr. Bustani following the review requested by the OPCW was made for material damages only.

Kim Howells: The original judgment from the International Labour Organisation Administrative Tribunal (ILOAT) in July 2002, awarded Mr. Bustani, as former Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), moral as well as material damages.
	In the subsequent review of this award, the OPCW did not request a review of the moral damages element of the award but only of the material damages. The ILOAT clarified that material damages must only compensate for loss actually suffered and that therefore net earnings from other sources, i.e. including that related to any new employment, had to be deducted from the payment to Mr. Bustani. In consequence the overall payment of damages to him was reduced.

School Fees

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent by his Department on school fees in each of the last three years; who is entitled to claim the cost of fees; what the maximum amount payable per claimant is; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) expenditure on school fees during the last three financial years was as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2002–03 15,990,618 
			 2003–04 17,273,000 
			 2004–05 (13)17,200,000 
		
	
	(13)Estimate—final figures are not yet available
	In the last academic year, the maximum amount payable per claimant was £6,695 for school fees per term.
	It is a condition of employment that members of the diplomatic service must be prepared to serve anywhere in the world at any time during their career, sometimes at very short notice. Those with children have the legal obligation as parents to ensure that their children receive a full-time education from the age of five years. The FCO's provisions for children's education are intended to help staff meet these potentially conflicting obligations.
	Children who accompany their parents on postings overseas are expected to use free state schooling if it is available locally and suitable. If suitable schooling is not available free of charge locally but is available at fee-charging schools, fees are refunded to enable children to receive the education they would be entitled to in the UK.
	With staff moving every 12–48 months and education facilities at posts' locations overseas varying, continuity of education can be problematic particularly during the important exam years and in preparation for these years. The FCO's provisions address this problem by enabling children to board at school in the UK while their parents remain subject to the world-wide mobility obligation.

Structural and Cohesion Funds

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his statement of 15 June 2005, Official Report, column 279, on European affairs, what assessment he has made of the effects of the Government's proposals for reform of structural and cohesion funds in the EU on (a) the UK's net and gross contribution to the EU budget and (b) the UK's abatement on its contributions; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: The exact impact of the Government's reforms for the Structural and Cohesion Funds (SCF) on the UK's net and gross contributions and on its abatement will depend on the size and shape of the budget to which it is applied.
	The Government's proposal is to focus the Community funding of EU Regional Policy on the poorest member states. If agreed, they would:
	reduce the UK's gross contributions, by lowering the overall size of the budget;
	decrease the UK's net contribution, as the UK is a net contributor to the SCF budget; and
	reduce the size of the UK abatement, by reducing the difference between the UK's gross contribution and its receipts.

Turkey

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the government of Turkey regarding the article in the Turkish Penal Code which criminalises any mention of the Armenian genocide.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the then Minister for Europe (Mr. MacShane) to my hon. Friendthe Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) on 16 November 2004, Official Report, columns 1340–41W. The answer makes clear that it is the non-binding guidance to Article 305 of the Turkish Penal Code and not the code itself that advises that when receiving material benefits from a foreign individual or organisation
	a citizen who declares that the Armenian genocide took place during the First World War, can be pursued by virtue of this article."
	The European Commission has made it clear to Turkey that they expect the language not to be taken into consideration when interpreting Article 305.
	Our embassy in Ankara discussed the Penal Code, including this guidance to Article 305, with the Turkish Parliament ahead of its entry into force on 1 June 2005, and continue to work with the European Commission to ensure that Turkey meets its international legal obligations, including those concerning freedom of expression under the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights.

Turkey

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Turkey regarding recognition of the Armenian genocide.

Douglas Alexander: None—neither this Government nor previous British Governments have judged that the evidence is sufficiently unequivocal to persuade us that these events should be categorised as genocide as defined by the 1948 UN Convention on Genocide.

United Nations Compensation Commission

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome of the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) meeting on 28 to 30 June was; whether it resolved all outstanding claims; what reparation payments have been made to date; what the total of reparations will be once all outstanding claims are met; what the timescale for outstanding claims is; what costs to date the UNCC has charged to reparations; what the estimated total cost of the UNCC itself charged to reparations upon the completion of all claim payments is; how much interest included within original claims has been paid to date; what the estimated interest on total claims for reparation payments is; what position the UK Government's representative at the UNCC took on matters before this meeting; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: All outstanding claims have now been resolved by the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC).
	A total of approximately US$52.5 billion has been awarded in respect of approximately 1.5 million eligible claims. Approximately US$19.2 billion has been paid so far to Governments for distribution to claimants.
	Current revenues received by the Fund are approximately US$1 billion per year. The next round of payments is expected this month when US$200 million will be made available for payment. It is likely that all individual claims will be paid by 2007, or earlier under the current payment mechanism.
	The Secretariat of the UNCC state that since 1991 total administrative costs up to May 2005 were US$362.6 million.
	The Governing Council at their meeting in March 2005 took the decision not to take any further action on the issue of interest. This effectively means that interest will not be paid by the UNCC to claimants on top of their principal awards. This decision was reached by consensus after careful consideration. The decision affects all claimants in the same way.
	The UK continues to support the UNCC.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Altnagelvin Hospital

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the recent closure of the high dependency unit at Altnagelvin hospital.

Shaun Woodward: The high dependency unit at Altnagelvin was closed temporarily from 5 pm on Saturday 25 June until 11 am on Monday 4 July. The closure was due to difficulties with nurse staffing levels associated with compassionate leave, maternity leave and sick absences.
	The same group of nursing staff work in both the intensive care unit (ICU) and high dependency unit (HDU) and when there is a higher than usual demand for ICU beds, nurses are redeployed from HDU to ICU. Given the unpredictability of the demand for ICU beds, the situation is monitored by the trust on a day-by-day basis.

Altnagelvin Hospital

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) full-term neonatal deaths and (b) stillbirths there were at Altnagelvin hospital in each week of 2001.

Shaun Woodward: This information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Altnagelvin Hospital

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many post mortems were conducted into neonatal deaths during 2001 at Altnagelvin Hospital.

Shaun Woodward: There were no post mortems conducted into neonatal deaths during 2001 at Altnagelvin hospital. All paediatric post mortems are carried out at the Royal Victoria hospital in Belfast.

Altnagelvin Hospital

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what investigations have been conducted into full-term neonatal deaths during September 2001 at Altnagelvin hospital.

Shaun Woodward: Altnagelvin Health and Social Services Trust advise that there were three routine blood tests carried out following full-term deaths at Altnagelvin hospital during September 2001. The Royal Group of Hospitals have advised that they carried out one paediatric post mortem following a referral from Altnagelvin hospital on 28 September 2001.

Anaesthetists

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his assessment is of the extent to which theatre managers and clinical directors are fulfilling their obligations to provide adequately trained staff to assist anaesthetists within the Province.

Shaun Woodward: Across trusts, theatre managers and clinical directors have fully considered the need to provide trained assistance of a high standard to anaesthetists. A range of measures is in place which includes: the recruitment and selection of appropriately qualified staff; in-house training and induction programmes; further professional training including diploma/degree level courses; specialist practice courses for nurses; and the supernumerary treatment of nurses undergoing anaesthetics training until deemed competent to practice.

Anastrozole

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research has been carried out by his Department into the effectiveness of Anastrozole in treating breast cancer.

Shaun Woodward: The Department has not conducted any research into the effectiveness of Anastrozole. However, the Department is aware of research undertaken elsewhere, especially the results of the Anastrozole, Tamoxifen, alone or in combination trial (ATAC). Evidence emerging from such studies will be kept under review.

Anastrozole

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are being treated with cancer drug Anastrozole in each NHS health authority area in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: The Department do not record the numbers of patients receiving a particular drug. However in 2004–05, 9, 213 prescriptions for Anastrozole were issued in the community in Northern Ireland.
	The number of Anastrozole prescriptions issued per board area in 2004–05 was as follows:
	
		
			 Board Number 
		
		
			 Northern 1,863 
			 Eastern 4,411 
			 Western 1,588 
			 Southern 1,358

Anastrozole

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the availability of the cancer drug Anastrozole on the NHS in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: The cancer drug Anastrozole is widely available for prescription in Northern Ireland.

Asbestos

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the disposal of asbestos within Northern Ireland; what sites have been approved by the Government; and when each was approved.

Angela Smith: There are two ways in which asbestos is legally managed. One is by disposal to a landfill site with a dedicated cell which receives only asbestos waste. The other is by contained storage in waste transfer stations where asbestos is kept until it can be transported to Great Britain for disposal in landfill in an economically viable manner.
	Asbestos can also be illegally disposed of by depositing on unlicensed sites or mixing it with other wastes to disguise its appearance.
	Currently three facilities in Northern Ireland are licensed to receive asbestos. These relate to one landfill site (which is currently completing engineering works before asbestos can be received) and two waste transfer stations. The landfill site was issued with a licence on 4 January 2005 while the waste transfer stations were licensed on 3 September 1984 and 19 April 2005.
	The Environment and Heritage Service of the Department of the Environment is investigating a small number of isolated incidents of illegal dumping of asbestos. It is difficult to quantify how prevalent this problem is as the activity is clandestine and disposal locations are not obvious. However, at present illegal disposal of asbestos on a commercial scale does not appear to be a serious problem in Northern Ireland.

Assets Recovery Agency

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total monetary value of property and processions confiscated by the Asset Recovery Agency has been in each year since the agency was created.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is set out in the following table:
	
		£ million
		
			  Assets frozen Assets recovered Receipts 
		
		
			 2003–04
			 England and Wales 17.9 None 0.002 
			 Northern Ireland 3.1 First full year of operation — 
			 Total 21 — 0.002 
			 
			 2004–05
			 England and Wales 13.1 4.1 3. 9 
			 Northern Ireland 3.7 1.4 0.7 
			 Total 16.8 5.5 4.6

Assets Recovery Agency

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are working for the Assets Recovery Agency.

Shaun Woodward: At 8 July 2005, the Assets Recovery Agency is made up of 189 members of staff, of which 47 are based in Belfast.

Audiology Goods and Services

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the reasons why expenditure per head of population in Northern Ireland on audiology goods and services is significantly less than in other parts of the United Kingdom.

Shaun Woodward: The Department does not hold any information on the comparison of spend per head of population on audiology services between the population of Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom.

Business Insurance

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received from the private sector in Northern Ireland on the level of insurance premiums for businesses operating in Northern Ireland; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: Insurance is a reserved matter. However, the issue of the level of insurance premiums for businesses in Northern Ireland has been raised regularly with the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment by a variety of private sector interests over the past few years. A working group made up of representatives from DETI, the business sector and the insurance industry, has closely monitored the on-going situation and a guide offering practical advice to businesses on purchasing insurance cover has been widely distributed.
	DETI has also introduced an annual insurance survey. The results of the last survey revealed an improving picture as a result of a general softening in the market. The survey results are available on the DETI website www.detini.gov.uk.

Business Insurance

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the annual change in insurance premiums for small and medium sized businesses in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997.

Angela Smith: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) has carried out an annual survey of Business Insurance Premiums for the period 2000–04. The estimated annual percentage change in the average (median) value of insurance premiums for small and medium sized businesses in Northern Ireland was +12.6 per cent. in 2000–01, +38.9 per cent. in 2001–02, +25.7 per cent. in 2002–03 and -16.1 per cent. in 2003–04. Comparative figures prior to the commencement of the DETI surveys are not available.

Children's Services

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding has been ring fenced for children's services in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: Children and families remain a priority for Government. As a result of the 2005–08 Budget settlement DHSSPS has ring fenced additional monies for children's residential care, foster care, children leaving care and child protection. Additional monies have also been made available for a number of children's fund executive programme fund schemes including regional adoption and leaving and aftercare.
	In addition all projects funded under the current three-year children's fund cycle will receive their full allocation from existing children's fund monies. No resources have been specifically provided for 2005–08 to mainstream the services currently provided by existing children's fund projects when this funding cycle is complete.
	DHSSPS also provides mainstream monies for Sure Start and the early years development fund. This is a programme of support for parents to be, parents and children aged under Sure Start projects are sited in areas with high levels of disadvantage. These projects are not aimed specifically at deprived families, but are available to all families within these targeted areas.

Civil Servants (Transfers)

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many civil servants have been transferred from the Northern Ireland Civil Service to civil service posts elsewhere outside the Northern Ireland Civil Service in each year since 2001.

Angela Smith: Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) staff are transferred to posts in the Home Civil Service (HCS) for a variety of reasons, such as inter-service transfers on compassionate terms, a transfer of functions from the NICS to the HCS or temporary secondments. The numbers are as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2001 7 
			 2002 8 
			 2003 153 
			 2004 2 
			 2005 4

Common Agricultural Policy

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people within the Department for Agricultural and Rural Development are employed to administer common agricultural policy payments; and how many of these people are employed in (a) Dundonald House, (b) Orchard House and (c) each of the local county agricultural offices.

Angela Smith: The number of staff employed to administer common agricultural policy payments within the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development are outlined as follows:
	
		
			 Location Number of staff 
		
		
			 (a) Dundonald House 47 
			 (Magnet House) (14)16 
			   
			 (b) Orchard House (15)167 
			   
			 (c) County agricultural offices  
			 Antrim 31 
			 Armagh 15 
			 Down 26 
			 Fermanagh 17 
			 Londonderry 25 
			 Tyrone 29 
			 Total 373 
		
	
	(14)Information technology.
	(15) Including four IT staff.

Crime Scene Arrests

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents there have been where a suspect has been apprehended at the scene of a crime, excluding car crime, in each of the last three years.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Dementia

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the merits of providing free care for dementia sufferers in the Province; and what estimate he has made of the likely cost.

Shaun Woodward: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 20 June 2005, Official Report, column 859W.

Early Support Programme

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce the early support programme to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: Currently there are no plans to introduce the early support programme to Northern Ireland.

Electoral Register

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been removed from the electoral register in error in each year since 2001; and what investigation took place in each case.

David Hanson: This issue is an operational matter and is the responsibility of the Chief Electoral Officer who has written to the hon. Gentleman in the following terms:
	Such errors are rare. Electoral Office records show that electors wrongly removed from the register in each year were as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2001 0 
			 2002 0 
			 2003 1 
			 2004 0 
			 2005 (16)3 
		
	
	(16)To date
	Where such an error occurred, the electors concerned were immediately re-instated on the register and the staff involved given further training to ensure that they understood how the mistake they had made took place. Procedures were also amended to make human error less likely. Letters of apology were also sent to the electors concerned, either directly or via their political representative where the matter was raised in that way".

Grants

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money has been allocated out of the (a) Children's Fund, (b) Innovation/Modernisation Executive Programme Fund, (c) Infrastructure Executive Programme Fund, (d) New Directions Executive Programme Fund, (e) Service Modernisation ExecutiveProgramme Fund and (f) Social Inclusion/Community Regeneration Executive Programme Fund to projects and programmes in North Belfast in each year since 2001.

Angela Smith: In excess of 300 projects and programmes, covering a wide range of geographical areas and activities, have been funded through Executive Programme Funds. Information regarding what element of funding allocated to these programmes or projects since 2001 relates to North Belfast could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Hearing-impaired Children

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans are in place for the provision of early years support services for children newly identified with a hearing loss through the Northern Ireland newborn hearing screening programme.

Shaun Woodward: A multi-agency representative Regional Newborn Hearing Screening Implementation Steering Group has been established and three sub-groups have been convened: the Regional NHS Implementation Project Team, the Support Services Sub-Group and the Equipment Sub-Group. Area Implementation Groups have been established within each Health and Social Services Board.

Hearing-impaired Children

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding is available for the provision of early years support services for children newly identified with a hearing loss through the Northern Ireland newborn hearing screening programme.

Shaun Woodward: Funding for service provision for children identified with a hearing loss through the Northern Ireland newborn hearing screening programme is determined by each Health and Social Services Board in terms of the needs identified in this population and the priorities established for the use of their allocated funding.

Illegal Dumping

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Government staff are working directly to combat illegal dumping in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: At present, a total of 32 staff (of scientific and administrative grades) form a dedicated enforcement team within the Waste Management and Contaminated Land Unit of the Department of the Environment's Environment and Heritage Service.
	The staff are involved in the range of duties directly associated with enforcement of legislation dealing with illegal waste management. These duties include carrying out investigations, preparing case files for submission to the Public Prosecution Service, and performing administrative work associated with managing case files, evidence and interview records.

Illegal Dumping

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been (a) questioned about, (b) charged with and (c) fined for illegal dumping in Northern Ireland of waste originating in the Republic of Ireland in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: The Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) of the Department of the Environment gained responsibility for investigation of alleged offences of illegal disposal of waste on 27 November 2003. Since that date, some 44 individuals have been interviewed under caution in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Order.
	During this period, 15 individuals/companies have been summonsed in relation to alleged offences.
	Also during this period, six people have been fined in connection with illegal deposit of waste believed to have originated in the Republic of Ireland.

Illegal Dumping

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents of illegal dumping there were in Northern Ireland for each of the last five years; and what action can be taken against the owners of land where illegal dumping takes place.

Angela Smith: The Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) of the Department of the Environment assumed responsibility on 27 November 2003 for legislation that creates offences for deposit of waste without a waste management licence.
	Prior to that date, regulation of illegal waste disposal was the responsibility of district councils in Northern Ireland. Figures for such incidents prior to that date are not available.
	Since that date, a total of 1,972 incidents of alleged illegal activity involving waste (covering a range of activities as well as disposal on unlicensed sites) were reported to EHS. Nine incidents were reported in the last month of 2003, 1,245 during 2004 and 718 during 2005 (to 30 June).
	Of this total, 576 reports were substantiated to the extent that EHS instigated investigation with a view to prosecution.
	Owners of land where illegal disposal has taken place are generally charged with offences under Article 4 of the Waste and Contaminated Land (NI) Order 1997. These relate to the deposit of controlled waste on land without a waste management licence being in force and also keeping waste in a manner likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health.
	The number and combination of offences varies with each case and each carries a maximum penalty in magistrates court of £20,000 and/or a maximum of six months imprisonment. On indictment there is potential for an unlimited fine and/or a maximum prison sentence of two years.

Inward Investment

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what levels of inward investment have been made in each Northern Ireland constituency in the last five years.

Angela Smith: The following table shows inward investment supported by Invest Northern Ireland and its predecessor The Industrial Development Board in each of the last five years.
	
		Invest NI inward investment by parliamentary constituency 2000–01 to 2004–05
		
			  Total investment (£) 
			 Parliamentary constituency 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 Grand total 
		
		
			 Belfast East 1,100,000 22,743,000 0 34,288,613 10,614,872 68,746,485 
			 Belfast North 21,897,000 15,588,363 0 13,500,000 459,852 51,445,215 
			 Belfast South 18,233,691 834,000 4,047,000 41,323,651 24,831,214 89,269,556 
			 Belfast West 2,691,000 23,947,000 2,958,000 9,719,973 21,350,000 60,665,973 
			 East Antrim 164,394,000 6,922,000 5,387,000 903,000 7,979,000 185,585,000 
			 East Londonderry 34,011,000 0 0 1,131,070 10,000 35,152,070 
			 Fermanagh and South Tyrone 693,500 12,444,640 7,884,615 3,943,360 3,799,500 28,765,615 
			 Foyle 9,280,000 13,535,636 92,048,000 11,689,944 37,100,000 163,653,580 
			 Lagan Valley 0 2,446,600 0 0 1,051,000 3,497,600 
			 Mid Ulster 0 0 1,391,650 10,226 22,596,846 23,998,722 
			 Newry and Armagh 5,000,000 0 914,028 0 0 5,914,028 
			 North Antrim 2,506,000 10,000,000 0.0 14,441,000 6,500,000 33,447,000 
			 North Down 0 263,000 1,575,000 1,185,000 5,332,000 8,355,000 
			 South Antrim 0 66,345,000 505,000 26,155 14,339,760 81,215,915 
			 South Down 0 11,794,659 0 0 0 11,794,659 
			 Strangford 2,078,000 571,000 2,826,378 9,750 62,500 5,547,628 
			 Upper Bann 1,529,200 16,273,760 37,854,122 12,832,757 35,978,370 104,468,209 
			 West Tyrone 1,263,000 27,676,300 9,334,000 4,381,545 4,442,500 47,097,345 
			 Yet to be determined 0 0 0 0 14,370,000 14,370,000 
			 Grand total 264,676,391 231,384,958 166,724,793 149,386,044 210,817,414 1,022,989,600 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.2004–05 figures are provisional and may be subject to change.
	2.Projects in the 'Yet To Be Determined' category have not yet agreed upon a final location.
	3.2000–01 and 2001–02 relate to IDB, 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05 relate to Invest NI

Irish Hare

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2005, Official Report, column 849W, on hare coursing, if he will delay a decision on any licence applications until he has assessed the results of the survey of the Irish hare population.

Angela Smith: Lord Rooker, the Minister with responsibility for this issue in Northern Ireland, will consider the population estimate of the Irish hare reported in the 2005 survey, along with data from other contemporary surveys, before making his decision on any licence application to net hares for the purpose of coursing.

Junior Doctors

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide funding to assist junior doctors with unavoidable expenses they incur through their training.

Shaun Woodward: Funding is provided by the employer to assist junior doctors with travelling, subsistence and in some instances removal expenses throughout their training. Expenses that may be payable are set out in the Terms and Conditions Handbook for Hospital Medication and Dental Staff and Doctors in Public Health Medicine and Community Health Service".

MMR Vaccines

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many MMR vaccines were purchased by each health board in Northern Ireland in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05.

Shaun Woodward: The number of vaccines used in each Health and Social Services Board area in Northern Ireland in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05 were as set out in the following table. The vaccines are actually purchased by Health and Personal Social Services Trusts and for the purpose of this table have been allocated to the relevant board.
	
		
			 Health and Social Services Board 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Eastern 17,859 57,477 
			 Northern 11,977 29,081 
			 Southern 11,160 22,044 
			 Western 8,482 21,096

MMR Vaccines

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many MMR vaccines the Department for Health has committed to purchasing solely for use in Northern Ireland for 2005.

Shaun Woodward: Northern Ireland participates in the National Contract for Childhood Vaccines. Contacts are awarded for MMR vaccines based on the anticipated requirements for the whole of the UK population. Northern Ireland draws MMR vaccines supplies from the UK central stockholding on a demand basis. Northern Ireland is not therefore committed to a defined volume of vaccine for 2005.

NHS (Overseas Workers)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how many individuals from overseas are working within the NHS in the Province, broken down by profession and nationality;
	(2)  how many individuals from sub-Saharan Africa are employed within the NHS, broken down by profession.

Shaun Woodward: Information is not available in the format requested.

Police Complaints

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints have been received by the Police Ombudsman in each year since the creation of the office.

Shaun Woodward: The figures the hon. Gentleman has requested are found on page 17 of the Annual Report and Statement of Accounts of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, April 2004 to March 2005, copies of which have been placed in the Library. It is also available on the Police Ombudsman website www.policeombudsman.org

Police Complaints

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the complaints received by the Police Ombudsman have resulted in a prosecution against members of the (a) RUC and (b) Police Service Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: The Police Ombudsman's office advises that the information is not held in the format requested, however, the Ombudsman has made 65 recommendations for prosecution against police officers to the Director of Public Prosecutions from the establishment of the office on 6 November 2000 until 31 March 2005. In the same period the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed 30 charges while a number of files await direction.

Rath behind the Grange

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will act to protect the Rath behind the Grange in Warringstown, County Down; and for what reasons a survey by the archaeological service was not undertaken prior to a decision on planning permission for development.

Angela Smith: The Rath or defended farmstead dated from the early Christian period, around AD 600–900. Prior to 1930, the Rath had largely been levelled by agricultural activity. A majority of the surviving below ground remains of its archaeological deposits were destroyed during the construction of a housing development in the summer of 2001 when the developer failed to implement planning conditions seeking to have archaeological remains investigated and recorded. Nothing remains at this location to be protected.
	It is important to note that under the 'Polluter Pays Principle' it is for the developer to undertake archaeological recording—not the Department.

Smoking

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money has been allocated for nicotine replacement therapies in the last three years in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety does not allocate resources exclusively for nicotine replacement therapies (NRT). However, since 1999, the Department has made additional resources available to health and social services boards for the development of smoking cessation services across Northern Ireland. The amounts allocated for the last three financial years are as follows:
	
		
			  Amount allocated (£) 
		
		
			 2003–04 600,000 
			 2004–05 600,000 
			 2005–06 760,000 
		
	
	NRT products are available either as over the counter" medicines or on prescription and may form part of the smoking cessation service offered to clients. Details of NRT prescription costs over the last three years for which figures are available are set out as follows.
	
		
			  Prescription costs (£ million) 
		
		
			 2002 1.9 
			 2003 2.1 
			 2004 2.4

Smoking

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the prevalence of smoking has been among teenagers in Northern Ireland over the past two decades, broken down by gender.

Shaun Woodward: The Continuous Household Survey provides the estimated prevalence of smoking among the population in Northern Ireland aged 16 and over. The following table shows the smoking prevalence for teenagers aged 16–19 from 1983 to 2002–03. Since 1986 questions on smoking have been asked biennially on the Continuous Household Survey.
	
		Prevalence of cigarette smoking among teenagers aged 16–19 in Northern Ireland, 1983 to 2002–03 -- Percentage
		
			  Cigarette smokers 
			  All Males Females 
		
		
			 1983 25 31 19 
			 1984 22 27 17 
			 1986 31 33 30 
			 1988 23 25 20 
			 1990–91 26 24 27 
			 1992–93 24 24 24 
			 1994–95 24 20 27 
			 1996–97 23 23 23 
			 1998–99 20 15 24 
			 2000–01 26 23 27 
			 2002–03 31 33 28 
		
	
	Source:
	Continuous Household Survey 1983 to 2002–03.

Speech/Occupational Therapists

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average waiting time (a) in Northern Ireland and (b) in respect of each health and social services board was between (i) a child and (ii) an adult being referred to (A) a speech therapist and (B) an occupational therapist and the date of that person's appointment in the last period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: Information on average waiting times for speech and language therapy and occupational therapy is not collected centrally. Information is, however, available on the time from referral to first appointment with a community speech and language therapist and from referral to commencement of assessment by a community occupational therapist, according to time band. The figures are available for adults and children together in respect of speech and language therapy and for adults only in respect of occupational therapy. The information is shown in the following tables for the position during the quarter ending 31 December 2004, the latest date for which such information is available.
	
		Persons attending first appointment with speech and language therapist, quarter ending 31 December 2004
		
			  Time waited for appointment 
			 Health and Social Services Board Under 3 months 3 to under 6 months 6 months and over Total 
		
		
			 Eastern 907 191 47 1,145 
			 Northern 665 95 41 801 
			 Southern 373 162 126 661 
			 Western 293 76 8 377 
			 Northern Ireland 2,238 524 222 2,984 
		
	
	Note:
	Information is for adults and children.
	
		Persons receiving first assessment by occupational therapist, quarter ending 31 December 2004—Priority cases
		
			  Time waited for assessment 
			 Health and Social Services Board Under 2 weeks 2 weeks to under 1 month 1 month and over Total 
		
		
			 Eastern 1,511 558 290 2,359 
			 Northern 772 209 488 1,469 
			 Southern 1,123 282 120 1,525 
			 Western 155 87 204 446 
			 Northern Ireland 3,561 1,136 1,102 5,799 
		
	
	Note:
	Information is for adults (aged 19 and over) only.
	
		Persons receiving first assessment by occupational therapist, quarter ending 31 December 2004—Non-priority cases
		
			  Time waited for assessment 
			 Health and Social Services Board Under 2 weeks 2 weeks to under 1 month 1 month and over Total 
		
		
			 Eastern 1,457 302 364 2,123 
			 Northern 604 96 167 867 
			 Southern 93 20 254 367 
			 Western 60 21 297 378 
			 Northern Ireland 2,214 439 1,082 3,735 
		
	
	Note:
	Information is for adults (aged 19 and over) only.

Substance Misuse

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide further funding to establish projects in Northern Ireland for young people suffering as a result of substance misuse.

Shaun Woodward: There are no plans to provide further funding to establish projects for young people.
	There are already a number of projects funded through the Northern Ireland Drug and Alcohol Campaign, which provide services for young people who may be directly or indirectly affected by substance misuse. These projects provide a range of services including education and prevention; diversionary activities and counselling and mentoring services.

Tyrone County Hospital

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future of otorhinolarynology services at Tyrone county hospital.

Shaun Woodward: The otorhinolarynology service provided by Sperrin Lakeland Trust includes ENT services and is currently based at Tyrone county hospital (TCH). In-patient and day case services are delivered from TCH with out-patient services delivered from both the Erne and Tyrone county hospitals. The service also provides cover to Cavan/Monaghan hospitals.
	The vast majority of otorhinolarynology procedures are performed on a day case basis and the future model for these services envisages that TCH will continue to provide both out-patient and day case services. These services will operate as part of a larger, area-wide network for the provision of otorhinolarynology services with in-patient services provided at the most appropriate acute hospital within the network. Such a network will greatly enhance the potential to recruit staff to local services and will ensure that patients are seen by the right person in the right place as quickly as possible.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Adoption

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children were placed for adoption in each year since 1983, broken down by age; how many of these children were placed for adoption while in local authority care; and how many were placed without parental consent.

Maria Eagle: The following table shows the number of looked after children placed for adoption since 1994, the earliest year for which information is available. Information is not collected centrally on the number of looked after children that were placed for adoption without parental consent.
	
		Children looked after who were placed for adoption at 31 March by age. 1994 to 2004(17)(5508050018): England -- Numbers
		
			  Placed for adoption 
			  1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 
		
		
			 All children(18) 2,200 2,200 2,200 2,400 2,400 2,900 
			 Under 1 180 160 140 110 180 160 
			 1–4 780 850 970 1,200 1,200 1,600 
			 5–9 850 830 780 820 810 930 
			 10–15 360 330 320 300 190 170 
			 16 and over 20 10 20 10 10 20 
		
	
	
		
			  Placed for adoption 
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 All children(18) 3,100 3,400 3,600 3,400 3,300 
			 Under 1 280 210 280 220 220 
			 1–4 1,600 1,800 1,800 1,700 1,600 
			 5–9 1,100 1,200 1,200 1,300 1,200 
			 10–15 200 220 230 240 190 
			 16 and over 10 10 10 10 10 
		
	
	(17)Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements.
	(18)Figures over 1,000 have been rounded to the nearest 100. All other figures have been rounded to the nearest10.
	Source:
	DfES

Children's Services (Funding)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of GDP was spent on children's services in England in the last period for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: Expenditure on children's services in England in 2003–04 was £5.4 billion, which equates to 0.48 per cent. of GDP.
	This figure does not include expenditure on education services, local government formula spending on youth services or children's services funded by other Government Departments.
	Further information, including forecast expenditure for future years and expenditure on education services, can be found in the Department for Education and Skills departmental report for 2005, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

City Academies

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what evidence her Department has collated on the cost-effectiveness of academies.

Jacqui Smith: We recently published PricewaterhouseCoopers' Second Annual Report from the Evaluation of the Academies Programme, which demonstrated that academies are overwhelmingly popular with parents and pupils, and that they have made a significant difference to the teaching and learning culture from their predecessors. Cost effectiveness is one of the indicators we expect that PwC will analyse as the five year study progresses, but it is important to note that academies are funded at the same level as other schools. Their recurrent funding is calculated on the same basis as other local schools and their capital costs are calculated using the same benchmarks as for other new schools.

City Academies

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding from the private sector has been brought into the state education system as a result of the establishment of city academies.

Jacqui Smith: Sponsors provide 10 per cent., up to a cap of £2 million, towards the capital costs for each academy, with the Government providing the balance and funding all recurrent costs. For the 17 academies currently open, and the 10 opening this September, the current expected total of private sponsors' contributions amounts to an additional investment in state education of £44 million. That figure rises to £69 million when including sponsors' contributions for the eight other academy projects opening in 2006 and 2007 which already have funding agreements in place.

Classroom Behaviour

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assistance her Department is giving to schools in Milton Keynes to promote good behaviour in the classroom.

Jacqui Smith: Our Secondary Strategy gives all secondary schools in Milton Keynes access to high-quality behaviour management training materials and support from a DfES-funded behaviour management consultant. Our Primary Strategy is giving all primary schools access to high-quality training and curriculum materials to improve children's social, emotional and behavioural skills. In addition:
	our Excellence in Cities programme provides Milton Keynes with extra funding (just over £1.3 million this year), about half of which can be used to fund Learning Mentors and Learning Support Units in schools in the Milton Keynes Excellence Cluster; and
	our Behaviour Improvement Programme provides Milton Keynes with further additional funding (728,000 this year) to support selected schools facing the greatest behaviour challenges.

Funding (Worcestershire) Schools

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the Dedicated Schools Grant for Worcestershire will continue to include the extra £3.5 million put in by Worcestershire county council above the Schools Formula Spending Share for 2005–06.

Jacqui Smith: The consultation document proposed that the starting point for the new Dedicated Schools Grant should be what each authority is actually spending on schools at present—not the level of its funding. So the Dedicated Schools Grant for Worcestershire for 2006–07 will continue to include the extra £3.5 million put in by Worcestershire county council above the Schools Formula Spending Share for 2005–06.

Departmental Staff

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many full-time equivalents have worked for the Department for each of the last five financial years for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to table C of Civil Service Statistics 2004 which is available on the internet at: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_ information/statistical_information/statistics/publications/xls/report_2004/table_c.xls.
	This table shows the numbers of staff by Department and agency between 1998 and 2004, on a full-time equivalent basis. Copies of Civil Service Statistics are also available in the Library.

Education (Sutton)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 11 July 2005, Official Report, column 836W, on education, if she will break down the figures in the second table by residing authority.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested broken down by local education authority has been provided in the tables.
	
		Total number of pupils attending schools in Sutton, broken down by phase of education and residing authority
		
			  Number of Pupils Primary Secondary Special 
		
		
			 Pupils attending schools  in Sutton 31,297 15,051 15,974 272 
			  
			 Home authority 
			 Sutton 24,883 14,092 10,582 209 
			 Croydon 2,383 169 2,190 24 
			 Merton 1,624 353 1,252 19 
			 Surrey 1,548 338 1,203 7 
			 Kingston upon Thames 391 75 312 4 
			 Lambeth 160 0 156 4 
			 Wandsworth 120 4 116 0 
			 Bromley 36 0 36 0 
			 Lewisham 33 0 33 0 
			 Southwark 22 0 22 0 
			 Other LEAs 33 5 28 0 
			 Unknown/not given(19) 64 15 44 5 
		
	
	(19)Residence of pupil unknown/not given.
	Source:
	PLASC 2005 provisional data.

Education Funding

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Educationand Skills how much money her Department granted to Swindon local education authority in (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02, (c) 2002–03, (d) 2003–04 and (e) 2004–05.

Jacqui Smith: The figures requested are expressed in cash terms and set out as follows:
	
		Swindon -- £ million
		
			  Recurrent funding(20) Capital funding 
		
		
			 2000–01 84.1 6.1 
			 2001–02 89.8 4.3 
			 2002–03 94.6 15.2 
			 2003–04 105.1 (21)80.2 
			 2004–05 110.7 11.6 
		
	
	(20)Recurrent funding
	Price Base: Cash
	Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of education SSA/EFS settlements. The 2003–04 to 2004–05 figures include the pensions transfer to EPS and LSC, the 2000–01 to 2002–03 figures have not been adjusted.
	Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DFES Departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to pupils aged three to 19 and exclude EMAs and grants not allocated at LEA level.
	Where responsibility for funding a school has transferred from an LEA, related funding no longer appears in the series.
	Rounding: Figures are rounded to the nearest 0.1 million.
	Status: 2003–04 and 2004–05 figures are provisional as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited.
	(21)Includes £62.8 million allocation for PFI scheme

Education Funding

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the spending per (a) primary and (b) high school pupil in Lancashire is for 2005–06.

Jacqui Smith: In 2005–06, the total revenue funding per pupil made available in Lancashire, through formula funding and specific grant, to support pupils aged 3–10 was £3,640 and £4,450 per pupil aged 11–15.
	Notes:
	1.Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of education EFS settlements and include the pensions transfer to EFS. 2.Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES Departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to pupils aged 3–10 and 11–15 and exclude Education Maintenance Allowances and grants not allocated at LEA level. 3.The pupil numbers used to convert £ million figures to per pupil are those underlying the EFS settlement calculations. 4.Figures are rounded to the nearest £10.

Educational Psychologists

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average waiting time between the referral of a child to an educational psychologist and that child's appointment was in (a) each local education authority and (b) England in the last period for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: Information on waiting times for consultations with educational psychologists is not collected centrally.

Employer Training Pilots

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average length of time employees spent away from the workplace completing NVQ Level 2 qualifications for the Employer Training Pilots was (a) in each pilot area and (b) across all pilot areas

Phil Hope: The Employer Training Pilots Year 2 Evaluation Report, Platform for Progression: Employer Training Pilots" (published in March 2005 and available in the House of Commons Library) shows that:
	in 50 per cent. of cases, ETP training is mainly delivered at the learners' workplace as part of normal duties;
	in 25 per cent. of cases, it is mainly delivered at the workplace but away from normal duties; and
	in the other 25 per cent. of cases, training is mainly delivered away from the workplace.
	The report also shows that, on average, it takes a participating employee around 100 hours spread over eight months to complete their NVQ. About a quarter of this is done in the employee's own time. Data are not available for individual Employer Training Pilots.

Employer Training Pilots

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in what percentage of cases employer training pilots followed the assess, train, assess model (a) in each pilot area and (b) across all pilot areas; and what priority this model will be accorded in future in respect of small and medium sized enterprises.

Phil Hope: The Employer Training Pilots (ETPs) tested a flexible approach to delivering training, mainly in the workplace. Training providers were encouraged to adopt an innovative 'Assess-Train-Assess' approach to meeting employer and individual skills needs to tailor the training provided to meet identified skills gaps.
	The Employer Training Pilots Year 2 Evaluation Report, Platform For Progression: Employer Training Pilots" (published in March and available in the House of Commons Library) found that while the vast majority of employers and employees were either 'satisfied' or 'very satisfied' with their training, only 16 per cent. of participating employees went through all phases of the 'Assess-Train-Assess' training model. As a result, stronger contracting requirements were placed on providers for the third phase of the pilots, launched in September 2004, to ensure that all participating employees received an initial assessment of skills needs.

Examinations

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many maintained grammar school sixth form pupils were entered for (a) general and vocational A-levels, (b) AS-levels and (c) key skills at Level 3 in 2004.

Jacqui Smith: The information is as follows.
	In maintained selective school sixth forms:
	19,322 students aged 16–18 attempted at least one general or vocational A-level in summer 2004;
	22,596 students aged 16–18 attempted at least one general or vocational AS-level in academic year 2003/04.
	We do not have the number of students entered for key skills at Level 3 but we do have information on the achievement of such qualifications by those who also take A-levels. Of the 19,322 A-level candidates in summer 2004, 364 had achieved key skills at Level 3.

Family Resolutions Pilot Project

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to her answer of 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 156W, on the Family Resolutions Pilot Project, what the reasons for non-referral were for the 71 couples not referred to the Family Resolutions Pilot Project, excluding domestic violence.

Maria Eagle: holding answer 14 July 2005
	Pursuant to my answer of 4 July 2005, Official Report, column156W, the table sets out the reasons for non-referral to the Family Resolutions Pilot Project for the 71 cases not referred, excluding the 14 cases not referred for reasons of domestic violence. Pursuant also to my answer of 4 July 2005, the interim evaluation has identified that six of the 71 non-referred applicants were from an extended family member. Thus it is more accurate to refer to 71 cases than to 71 couples.
	
		
			  Number of cases 
		
		
			 Parents had already reached agreement 18 
			 Applicant and/or respondent failed to attend 9 
			 Lack of parental consent 9 
			 Applicant seeking to transfer proceedings 5 
			 Child protection/welfare issues (welfare report  ordered) 6 
			 Residence dispute only 5 
			 Other (some of this category included family members  other than parents) 5 
			 Total 57

Headteachers

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will ensure that all headteachers are in receipt of the necessary training before they are required to draft and publish their new staffing structure; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The document Review of the School Staffing Structure: Guidance for Schools in England" (and is available on the Teachernet and Governornet websites) produced jointly by the DfES, teacher association and employers partners provides governing bodies and headteachers with comprehensive support in identifying the key steps necessary to conduct an effective review of the staffing structure.
	Further support and advice is available from local authorities and from the four unions and associations that are part of Rewards and Incentive Group (RIG), who will shortly provide a 'Frequently Asked Questions' brief. In addition, RIG is intending to further support the process at the outset of the autumn term with a national RIG Helpline, some regional workshops, and by offering a simple self-assessment tool for schools experiencing difficulties to use in identifying any further assistance needed.

Higher Education Funding

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what account is taken of local wage and salary levels in allocating funding to universities and colleges; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) includes in its recurrent teaching and research allocations weightings that take account of the additional costs for institutions based in London. Within the teaching grant, the weightings are 8 per cent. for inner London and 5 per cent. for outer London. Within research grant, they are 12 per cent. for inner London and 8 per cent. for outer London.
	The weightings differ between teaching and research because in the case of teaching they are applied to resource (HEFCE grant plus assumed fee income), whereas for research they are applied to HEFCE grant only.
	London weighting is the only regional cost variation that HEFCE recognises in its funding allocations.

Key Stage 2 (Spelling)

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what proportion of marks for the KeyStage 2 (a) longer and (b) shorter writing task are awarded for spelling;
	(2)  what the minimum score necessary in the Key Stage 2 spelling test is to be awarded Level 4 overall;
	(3)  how many pupils scored each mark for the most recent Key Stage 2 spelling test.

Jacqui Smith: In the Key Stage 2 English tests, spelling is assessed on the basis of a discrete spelling test, for which seven marks are available out of a total of 100. An overall Level 4 is awarded on the basis of the aggregate score from the shorter writing, longer writing, spelling and reading tests, and is not dependent on achieving a minimum score in any of those tests. Information about numbers of pupils scoring each mark in the spelling test is not collected centrally.

Language Colleges

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many additional language teachers have been appointed in anticipation of the promised additional funding for language colleges;
	(2)  how many specialist language colleges she expects will receive the additional funding she has promised in time for the 2005 autumn term.

Jacqui Smith: In March 2005 the Department announced a package of measures to support the National Languages Strategy. This included an extra £30,000 additional grant for specialist language colleges, although no date was given for the additional funding. We have now written to schools confirming that additional funding for existing colleges (including those redesignating in autumn 2005) will be available from April 2006, and from September 2006 for new colleges.
	The additional funding can be used in a number of ways, one of which is to appoint a shared primary languages specialist co-ordinator to work across the local authority with a group of primaries. It is up to schools to decide how they will use the grant and we do not know how many anticipate appointing additional language teachers with the funding.
	In addition to this funding, as part of the Boost for modern foreign languages" announcement, the Government are providing £60 million for initial teacher training, support for foreign language assistants and in-service training for teachers.

Looked-after Children

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment the Department has made of the reasons for (a) the growth in the number of children being taken into care and (b) the effects of that growth on the overall cost of taking children into care.

Maria Eagle: The number of looked-after children who are the subject of a care order made by the family courts has increased from 36,400 on 31 March 2000 to 39,400 on 31 March 2004.
	Before 2000, information was not collected centrally for the costs of looked-after children. We estimate that, in February 2000, the total weekly cost of looked-after children in England was £25 million, or £435 a child, and in February 2003 the total weekly cost was £36.5 million, or £585 a child. (Information derived from the Children in Need Censuses.) Thus, the increases in the costs faced by local authorities in looking after children who have been taken into care arise as a consequence of both the increased number of children who have become the subject of care orders and the increases in the costs experienced by local authorities in caring for them.
	Information is not collected centrally on the detailed reasons for the making of care orders by the family courts. However, section 31(2) of the Children Act 1989 provides that:
	A court may only make a care order or supervision order if it is satisfied—
	(a) that the child concerned is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm; and
	(b) that the harm, or likelihood of harm, is attributable to—
	(i) the care given to the child, or likely to be given to him if the order were not made, not being what it would be reasonable to expect a parent to give to him; or
	(ii) the child's being beyond parental control."
	Thus, all children who are taken into care by means of the making of a care order will have been considered by the court to have met these criteria, following the making of applications to the courts by local authorities.
	In the Command Paper, A Fairer deal for Legal Aid" (Cm 6591), published on 5 July 2005, the Government announced a review of child care proceedings in England and Wales. The review will include work to identify innovative practice which enables children to be diverted away from court proceedings and, instead, be supported in their families where this is possible.
	
		Children looked after at 31 March by legal status, 1994–2004(22)—England -- Numbers
		
			 Legal status 1994(23) 1995(23) 1996(23) 1997(23) 1998(24) 1999(24) 
		
		
			 All children(22) 49,500 49,900 50,800 51,500 53,300 55,500 
			 Care orders(25) 29,400 29,100 29,400 30,700 32,100 34,400 
			 S20 CA 1989 (voluntary arrangements) 18,900 19,500 19,800 19,200 19,100 18,800 
			 On remand or committed for trial or detained(26) 440 450 510 500 650 530 
			 Other legal status(27) 800 910 1,000 1,200 1,500 1,700 
		
	
	
		Numbers
		
			 Legal status 2000(24) 2001(24) 2002(24) 2003(24) 2004(23) 
		
		
			 All children(22) 58,100 58,900 59,700 60,800 61,100 
			 Care orders(25) 36,400 37,600 38,400 39,600 39,400 
			 S20 CA 1989 (voluntary arrangements) 19,300 19,100 19,000 18,900 19,200 
			 On remand or committed for trial or detained(26) 620 320 310 240 240 
			 Other legal status(27) 1,700 1,900 2,000 2,100 2,300 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short-term placements.
	2.Figures are taken from the SSDA903 return.
	3.Figures are taken from the CLA100 return.
	4.Includes both full and interim care orders.
	5.For the years ending 31 March 1998 to 2000, includes children who were subject to a compulsory care order under Sections 90–92 of the Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000.
	6.Includes child protection orders and freed for adoption. See Table K for a breakdown of the figure for 2004.

Looked-after Children

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of looked after children were placed (a) outside their original local authority and (b) more than 20 miles outside their home authority, broken down by age for each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The following table provides the information requested in part (a) . Information on the distance between home and placement has not been collected in the past but will be made available when the Department's 2004–05 looked after children data collection has been processed. These data are expected to be available during the first quarter of 2006.
	
		Number of children in England placed outside council boundary under foster placements, children's homes and hostels at 31 March(22)(5508050023)(24)
		
			  Age at 31 March 
			  All children As percentage of all looked after children Under 1 1–4 5–9 10–15 16 and over 
		
		
			 2000 11,400 20 350 1,200 2,500 5,700 1,700 
			 2001 11,400 19 280 1,100 2,500 5,800 1,700 
			 2002 12,900 22 320 1,200 2,700 6,600 2,000 
			 2003 13,900 23 370 1,300 2,900 7,300 2,100 
			 2004 15,400 25 430 1,400 3,000 8,100 2,400 
		
	
	(22)Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements
	(23)Figures are taken from the SSDA903 return and have been rounded
	(24)Excludes independent homes and hostels not subject to Children's Homes Regulations

Looked-after Children

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2005, Official Report, columns 165–66W, on missing children, which local authorities recorded in the delivery and improvement statement (a) had not appointed a senior manager to monitor missing from care incidents and (b) did not have protocols with the police.

Maria Eagle: Based on information provided by the 2004 development and improvement statement:
	(a) The councils that had not appointed a manager to monitor missing from care incidents were:
	Bracknell Forest
	Hartlepool
	Lambeth
	Milton Keynes
	North East Lincolnshire
	Thurrock
	(b) The councils that did not have protocols with the police for monitoring missing from care incidents were:
	Barking and Dagenham
	Bexley
	Brent
	Bromley
	Cornwall
	Cumbria
	Havering
	Islington
	Middlesbrough
	North East Lincolnshire
	North Yorkshire
	Northumberland
	Redcar and Cleveland
	Rochdale
	Southend-on-Sea
	Sutton
	Wakefield
	Westminster
	This information was provided in 2004 and does not necessarily reflect the current practices of these authorities.

Looked-after Children

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2005, Official Report, columns 162–63W, on looked-after children, what guidance has been issued to local authorities concerning the number of in year placements; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Since the Government initiated the quality protects programme in 1998, the promotion of placement stability for looked-after children has been an important aspect of our programme. Data on the number of children who move three times in one year has been collected since that time. This data indicates that the percentage of children looked-after at 31 March each year who had three or more placements in one year had declined from 16 per cent. to 13 per cent. between 1998 and 2004.
	Although the Government have not issued specific guidance solely concerned with placement stability, since 1998, all relevant publications relating to looked after-children, such as materials issued as part of the Choice Protects programme, which is intended to improve the availability and quality of foster care and local authority placement commissioning, and the Green Paper Every Child Matters (2003)", have emphasised the importance of placement stability, in order that looked-after children are enabled to secure the same outcomes as all other children
	As part of the current DfES programme to support the delivery of our revised PSA target with the Treasury to improve placement stability, we are developing further strands of work, in order to analyse and promote good practice in delivering placement stability for looked after children.

Looked-after Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children from (a) Angola, (b) Nigeria and (c) Sierra Leone are in the care of social services in England.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Looked-after Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children are placed in independent children's homes out of area of the placing authority.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is not collected centrally for this type of placement. Information on looked after children who are placed outside of the placing authority for homes, which includes homes run by local authorities, the voluntary and independent sectors, and hostels that are subject to children's homes regulations may be found in table J of the Department's publication Children Looked After by Local Authorities, Year Ending 31 March 2004 Volume 1: Local Authority Tables". This is available on the internet at: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/VOL/v000569/vweb01–2005_1.pdf.

Ministerial Visits

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many requests have been received from hon. Members for ministerial visits to their constituency since the general election.

Maria Eagle: Since the general election, Ministers have received a total of 25 requests from hon. Members for visits to their constituencies.

Modern Apprenticeships

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the drop-out rates for modern apprenticeships were in each year between 1994 and 2004.

Phil Hope: The Learning and Skills Council routinely publish Apprenticeship outcomes in the Statistical First Release series Further Education and Work Based Learning for Young People—Learner Outcomes in England".

Musical Instrument Tuition

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many primary schools offered musical instrument tuition in 2003–04.

Jacqui Smith: This information is not part of the Department's statutory annual data collection for 2003–04. However, in February we undertook a survey of all music services, and this included information on the number of primary pupils in each local authority who were learning a musical instrument in 2004–05. The survey findings will be available in the autumn.
	The national curriculum provides all children aged 5–14 with a statutory entitlement to music lessons, giving them the opportunity to sing, to play musical instruments, to hear live and recorded music from a range of traditions and styles, to compose and to perform.

National Literacy Strategy

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what level of consultation will be undertaken by the National Literacy Strategy review panel; and with which organisations and groups;
	(2)  what the terms of reference are for the review of the National Literacy Strategy;
	(3)  what criteria are being used to select the members of the National Literacy Strategy review panel.

Jacqui Smith: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 3 June 2005 that there will be an independent review of best practice in the teaching of early reading, including the role of synthetic phonics. The review is being led by Jim Rose, the former Director of Inspection at Ofsted. It is independent from, and is not being conducted by, the Government's Primary National Strategy.
	Jim Rose has invited a group of advisers, with considerable experience as practitioners and researchers in this field, including early years expertise, to provide him with advice on conducting his review. The group will consist of the following members:
	Professor Greg Brooks, University of Sheffield
	Professor Morag Stuart, Institute of Education
	Professor Pam Sammons, University of Nottingham
	Professor Kathy Sylva, University of Oxford
	HMI Janet Brennan
	In addition to the specialist phonics advice that Janet Brennan will provide Ofsted will also be contributing to Mr. Rose's review by HMI Tim Key providing information from Ofsted's inspection data.
	In making his recommendations Mr. Rose will draw on his advisers' expertise, and he will also examine academic research and best practice for using synthetic phonics in reading in primary schools and early years settings. He will seek views from a broad range of individuals and organisations that represent the interests of those sectors, as well as examining recent reports on reading by the Education and Skills Select Committee, Ofsted, the study in Clackmannanshire local authority in Scotland and other evidence.

Higher Education Access

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans there are for the Office for Fair Access to audit a sample of access agreements provided by higher education institutions; and how many institutions will be included in the sample.

Bill Rammell: In order to minimise the regulatory burden on institutions, OFFA has no current plans to audit access agreements. Institutions have set out within their access agreements how they intend to monitor the implementation of their own agreements and OFFA will take assurance from the information that institutions produce for their own purposes, and the other data that is already collected through institutions such as the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

Part-time Students

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will lift the cap on fee waivers for poor part-time students.

Bill Rammell: The discretionary fee waiver scheme for part-time students ran from 1998/99 to 2003–04. In 2004/05 for the first time non-repayable grants were introduced for part-time students: a fee grant of up to £575 (to replace the fee waiver), and a non-repayable course grant of up to £250. Transitional protection was put in place for continuing students who had received a fee waiver in 2003/04.
	The support available to part-time students is being further improved for 2005/06: the maximum fee grant is being increased to £885; the income threshold below which students can get both the fee and course grants is also being increased; and the amount of fee support the student receives will, in future, be linked to the intensity of their study. The grants are means-tested in order to target funding most effectively at those on the lowest incomes.

Part-time Students

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what research she has conducted on the financial situation of part-time students;
	(2)  what research she has conducted on the impact of new fees regulations in higher education institutions with an atypically high level of part-time students;
	(3)  what recent assessment she has made of the merits of fee deferrals for part-time students;
	(4)  what representations she has received from (a) higher education institutions and (b) the Office for Fair Access on the impact on student access of differences between the full-time and part-time student support regimes.

Bill Rammell: Over the last 12 months, Ministers and officials have met regularly with representatives from higher education institutions with high proportions of part-time undergraduate students to discuss a range of issues, including the changes to the student funding system which will be introduced in 2006–07. Ministers have listened to concerns raised by institutions and are considering the most effective means of using available funding to support part-time undergraduate provision. This includes an ongoing consideration of the merits of fee deferral in light of a deepening understanding of the diverse part-time student body.
	To understand better the part-time undergraduate student body, the Department for Education and Skills commissioned Alan Woodley from the Open University's Institute of Educational Technology to survey part-time students. The report Earning, learning and paying: the results from a national survey of the costs and financing of part-time students in higher education" was published in November 2004. Additionally, part-time undergraduates are included within the scope of the 2004/05 Student Income and Expenditure Survey" (SIES). The SIES is due for publication early in 2006.
	The Woodley survey confirmed the heterogeneity of the part-time undergraduate student body and that the barriers which individuals may face to participation are, by no means, uniform. Notably, 65 per cent. of part-time undergraduates are in full-time employment with a further 18 per cent. in part-time employment. Moreover, 36 per cent. of part-time undergraduate students have all their fees paid by an employer. Consequently, any consideration of the merits of fee deferral for part-timers must address the financial resources available to individual students and the likelihood of replacing existing employer support.
	The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has considered representations from institutions for special funding in response to concerns about the impact of variable fees on large scale providers of part-time undergraduate higher education. The Council announced its findings on 1 March. These included a commitment to develop a widening participation measure, from the 2006/07 academic year, designed to ensure that the most disadvantaged students will continue to be able to study on a part-time basis. Details of the measure will be confirmed by the HEFCE board in the autumn. No representations have been received from the Office for Fair Access with regard to part-time undergraduate provision.

Primary Schools (Language Tuition)

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many primary schools offered language learning opportunities in 2003/04; and in which languages.

Jacqui Smith: This information is not part of the Department's statutory annual data collection. However, research carried out for the DfES in 2002/03 showed that 44 per cent. of schools teaching pupils aged 7–11 offered some form of language learning, 35 per cent. of which took place in curriculum time. This is up from 21 per cent. of schools offering some form of language learning in 2000, and we expect that number will have increased again significantly last year. Our research showed that French is the language most commonly taught, followed by Spanish, German and Italian. 28 LEAs reported other languages being taught. We know from our Key Stage 2 language pathfinders that a wide range of languages are now being taught at primary schools, including community and other world languages.

School Admissions

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many appeals were made to the Independent School Admissions Panel for (a) primary and junior schools and (b) secondary schools for each English county in each of the last eight years.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is shown in the following table. 
	
		Maintained primary schools(25): Number of admission appeals lodged and heard each academic year 1996/97 to 2003/04 by each English county local education authority
		
			   Maintained primary schools 
			   1996/97 1997/98 
			   Appeals lodged Appeals heard Percentage heard(26) Appeals lodged Appeals heard Percentage heard(26) 
		
		
			 840 Durham 370 250 68.1 250 190 74.7 
			 820 Bedfordshire 40 30 83.8 40 30 69.8 
			 825 Buckinghamshire 90 70 81.6 100 80 82.7 
			 905 Cambridgeshire(27) 180 140 79.8 — — — 
			 873 Cambridgeshire(28) — — — 90 80 81.9 
			 906 Cheshire(27) 80 60 77.6 — — — 
			 875 Cheshire(28) — — — 40 20 55.0 
			 908 Cornwall 130 120 86.6 180 120 65.6 
			 909 Cumbria 280 210 73.8 280 210 74.5 
			 830 Derbyshire 140 120 89.6 90 80 84.6 
			 911 Devon(27) 270 180 67.5 — — — 
			 878 Devon(28) — — — 260 150 59.0 
			 835 Dorset 110 70 61.1 80 50 56.0 
			 845 East Sussex 180 120 68.8 160 110 66.3 
			 915 Essex(27) 410 370 90.3 — — — 
			 881 Essex(28) — — — 350 290 83.0 
			 916 Gloucestershire 100 80 82.5 130 100 72.4 
			 850 Hampshire 430 300 68.8 510 250 50.3 
			 919 Hertfordshire 1,220 730 60.1 1,420 800 56.7 
			 922 Kent(27) 1,110 260 23.2 — — — 
			 886 Kent(28) — — — 620 140 22.5 
			 923 Lancashire(27) 1,800 1260 69.9 — — — 
			 888 Lancashire(28) — — — 1,110 790 71.3 
			 855 Leicestershire 50 30 62.2 40 30 63.4 
			 925 Lincolnshire 150 90 59.7 140 80 60.9 
			 926 Norfolk 170 60 35.6 160 70 41.3 
			 815 North Yorkshire 120 100 83.8 120 80 65.8 
			 928 Northamptonshire 280 190 67.9 180 120 65.7 
			 929 Northumberland 30 30 97.0 10 10 90.9 
			 930 Nottinghamshire(27) 350 260 75.0 — — — 
			 891 Nottinghamshire(28) — — — 340 250 74.0 
			 931 Oxfordshire 170 160 97.0 150 100 68.2 
			 932 Shropshire(27) 560 530 93.6 — — — 
			 893 Shropshire(28) — — — 260 240 94.1 
			 933 Somerset 260 190 72.7 290 220 75.3 
			 860 Staffordshire 90 50 58.0 60 40 63.3 
			 935 Suffolk 50 30 56.9 60 30 55.2 
			 936 Surrey 870 530 60.7 770 510 65.4 
			 937 Warwickshire 530 380 70.9 410 330 79.9 
			 938 West Sussex 160 110 68.6 240 150 60.2 
			 865 Wiltshire 50 40 78.3 30 20 75.0 
			 918 Hereford and Worcester(27) 130 90 71.4 — — — 
			 885 Worcestershire(28) — — — 170 120 70.1 
		
	
	
		
			   1998/99 1999/2000 
			   Appeals lodged Appeals heard Percentage heard(26) Appeals lodged Appeals heard Percentage heard(26) 
		
		
			 840 Durham 320 230 73.7 290 190 66.7 
			 820 Bedfordshire 40 30 77.3 40 20 57.9 
			 825 Buckinghamshire 110 80 76.2 100 80 78.4 
			 905 Cambridgeshire (27) — — — — — — 
			 873 Cambridgeshire (28) 110 100 89.2 200 140 73.0 
			 906 Cheshire (27) — — — — — — 
			 875 Cheshire (28) 80 80 98.7 120 100 84.6 
			 908 Cornwall 290 220 73.7 360 230 64.7 
			 909 Cumbria 230 180 77.8 160 120 73.7 
			 830 Derbyshire 230 210 90.0 320 220 70.2 
			 911 Devon (27) — — — — — — 
			 878 Devon (28) 100 60 57.1 160 90 56.4 
			 835 Dorset 120 80 64.5 120 80 64.7 
			 845 East Sussex 230 160 68.1 240 150 60.3 
			 915 Essex (27) — — — — — — 
			 881 Essex (28) 310 260 84.3 320 190 60.4 
			 916 Gloucestershire 150 110 69.5 170 110 65.3 
			 850 Hampshire 460 250 53.7 270 240 86.1 
			 919 Hertfordshire 2,090 1,410 67.3 1,670 1,070 64.2 
			 922 Kent (27) — — — — — — 
			 886 Kent (28) 1,310 250 18.8 980 100 10.2 
			 923 Lancashire (27) — — — — — — 
			 888 Lancashire (28) 1,090 780 71.2 860 620 72.3 
			 855 Leicestershire 40 20 56.4 50 30 63.8 
			 925 Lincolnshire 240 160 65.7 280 170 62.5 
			 926 Norfolk 190 80 42.8 160 70 40.2 
			 815 North Yorkshire 70 50 72.2 140 90 61.1 
			 928 Northamptonshire 350 260 73.8 200 160 78.4 
			 929 Northumberland 10 10 92.3 10 10 100.0 
			 930 Nottinghamshire (27) — — — — — — 
			 891 Nottinghamshire (28) 180 150 81.0 250 170 66.8 
			 931 Oxfordshire 170 130 80.1 140 120 83.5 
			 932 Shropshire (27) — — — — — — 
			 893 Shropshire (28) 220 180 81.6 110 70 62.7 
			 933 Somerset 310 220 69.8 450 240 53.0 
			 860 Staffordshire 80 30 33.3 60 20 38.6 
			 935 Suffolk 130 80 56.0 130 70 51.6 
			 936 Surrey 780 530 67.7 590 400 66.5 
			 937 Warwickshire 460 320 70.2 490 370 74.9 
			 938 West Sussex 280 150 53.7 350 190 55.3 
			 865 Wiltshire 30 20 72.4 30 20 69.2 
			 918 Hereford and Worcester (27) — — — — — — 
			 885 Worcestershire (28) 170 90 53.2 180 80 46.7 
		
	
	
		
			   2000/01 2001/02 
			   Appeals lodged Appeals heard Percentage heard(26) Appeals lodged Appeals heard Percentage heard(26) 
		
		
			 840 Durham 270 200 73.0 280 180 63.9 
			 820 Bedfordshire 50 30 56.0 60 30 50.0 
			 825 Buckinghamshire 200 140 69.2 250 140 55.6 
			 905 Cambridgeshire (27) — — — — — — 
			 873 Cambridgeshire (28) 240 180 77.0 190 150 75.8 
			 906 Cheshire (27) — — — — — — 
			 875 Cheshire (28) 150 140 91.4 150 140 94.1 
			 908 Cornwall 340 230 67.9 470 250 53.6 
			 909 Cumbria 150 110 70.4 130 100 78.8 
			 830 Derbyshire 190 160 83.0 220 160 75.1 
			 911 Devon (27) — — — — — — 
			 878 Devon (28) 140 80 52.8 170 90 55.6 
			 835 Dorset 100 60 55.9 110 80 75.2 
			 845 East Sussex 150 100 66.9 150 80 55.9 
			 915 Essex (27) — — — — — — 
			 881 Essex (28) 580 340 58.7 700 420 60.7 
			 916 Gloucestershire 270 230 88.0 220 160 71.8 
			 850 Hampshire 300 200 65.7 250 170 67.6 
			 919 Hertfordshire 1,220 840 68.7 970 660 68.4 
			 922 Kent (27) — — — — — — 
			 886 Kent (28) 1,200 350 29.1 950 120 12.7 
			 923 Lancashire (27) — — — — — — 
			 888 Lancashire (28) 940 640 68.2 810 600 73.5 
			 855 Leicestershire 50 30 56.3 40 30 70.0 
			 925 Lincolnshire 200 120 60.3 210 160 79.1 
			 926 Norfolk 190 80 40.0 200 120 61.1 
			 815 North Yorkshire 210 130 62.3 100 60 64.9 
			 928 Northamptonshire 240 160 65.3 230 220 95.3 
			 929 Northumberland 40 40 90.0 30 20 88.5 
			 930 Nottinghamshire (27) — — — — — — 
			 891 Nottinghamshire (28) 240 150 63.2 530 310 58.5 
			 931 Oxfordshire 160 90 58.8 250 170 70.2 
			 932 Shropshire (27) — — — — — — 
			 893 Shropshire (28) 80 50 61.7 110 60 54.5 
			 933 Somerset 530 320 60.4 440 250 58.0 
			 860 Staffordshire 60 30 50.9 60 30 41.3 
			 935 Suffolk 140 100 73.5 350 270 77.1 
			 936 Surrey 490 310 63.0 320 210 67.4 
			 937 Warwickshire 410 300 72.9 410 300 72.3 
			 938 West Sussex 320 200 63.8 270 180 65.9 
			 865 Wiltshire 70 50 61.6 110 60 49.6 
			 918 Hereford and Worcester (27) — — — — — — 
			 885 Worcestershire (28) 150 90 58.6 150 80 55.1 
		
	
	
		
			   2002/03 2003/04 
			   Appeals lodged Appeals heard Percentage heard(26) Appeals lodged Appeals heard Percentage heard(26) 
		
		
			 840 Durham 320 210 65.1 210 140 67.8 
			 820 Bedfordshire 50 30 49.1 160 100 58.3 
			 825 Buckinghamshire 290 190 64.5 360 250 69.8 
			 905 Cambridgeshire (27) — — — — — — 
			 873 Cambridgeshire (28) 110 80 68.8 120 90 75.9 
			 906 Cheshire (27) — — — — — — 
			 875 Cheshire (28) 90 90 95.6 140 130 97.1 
			 908 Cornwall 310 150 49.0 320 160 50.6 
			 909 Cumbria 120 90 72.0 70 50 67.2 
			 830 Derbyshire 200 170 87.4 210 190 89.2 
			 911 Devon (27) — — — — — — 
			 878 Devon (28) 100 50 48.5 120 80 63.3 
			 835 Dorset 90 40 49.4 60 40 70.2 
			 845 East Sussex 110 70 63.6 140 90 65.9 
			 915 Essex (27) — — — — — — 
			 881 Essex (28) 830 500 60.1 650 400 61.6 
			 916 Gloucestershire 150 120 81.1 140 110 76.1 
			 850 Hampshire 270 200 72.6 210 130 64.4 
			 919 Hertfordshire 1,000 670 66.6 730 510 70.1 
			 922 Kent (27) — — — — — — 
			 886 Kent (28) 760 40 5.7 680 50 7.4 
			 923 Lancashire (27) — — — — — — 
			 888 Lancashire (28) 610 480 77.6 310 250 81.1 
			 855 Leicestershire 80 50 65.3 90 60 66.0 
			 925 Lincolnshire 300 150 50.7 250 200 81.7 
			 926 Norfolk 170 120 66.5 120 70 58.3 
			 815 North Yorkshire 50 30 61.1 130 100 76.6 
			 928 Northamptonshire 400 240 61.0 280 180 64.6 
			 929 Northumberland 50 40 78.4 50 40 81.3 
			 930 Nottinghamshire (27) — — — — — — 
			 891 Nottinghamshire (28) 360 210 58.2 240 140 55.8 
			 931 Oxfordshire 190 100 55.6 230 140 58.1 
			 932 Shropshire (27) — — — — — — 
			 893 Shropshire (28) 130 90 72.9 120 80 63.3 
			 933 Somerset 390 160 40.7 330 100 31.3 
			 860 Staffordshire 50 30 56.9 60 30 41.0 
			 935 Suffolk 330 210 63.4 370 210 55.5 
			 936 Surrey 380 230 60.4 320 190 60.6 
			 937 Warwickshire 360 230 62.5 270 200 74.6 
			 938 West Sussex 290 180 63.7 290 160 54.3 
			 865 Wiltshire 140 80 55.3 180 110 63.1 
			 918 Hereford and Worcester (27) — — — — — — 
			 885 Worcestershire (28) 120 80 63.9 150 80 53.0 
		
	
	(25)Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(26)Number of appeals heard by a panel expressed as a percentage of the number of appeals lodged by parents.
	(27)Before Local Government Reorganisation.
	(28)After Local Government Reorganisation.
	Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census and Admission Appeals Survey
	
		Maintained secondary schools(29): Number of admission appeals lodged and heard each academic year 1996/97 to 2003/04 by each English county local education authority 
		
			   Maintained secondary schools 
			   1996/97 1997/98 
			   Appeals lodged Appeals heard Percentage heard(30) Appeals lodged Appeals heard Percentage heard(30) 
		
		
			 840 Durham 240 160 65.3 230 180 77.4 
			 820 Bedfordshire 180 150 85.7 280 220 77.1 
			 825 Buckinghamshire 620 530 86.1 750 640 85.7 
			 905 Cambridgeshire (31) 340 310 93.1 — — — 
			 873 Cambridgeshire (32) — — — 160 130 81.7 
			 906 Cheshire (31) 300 280 94.6 — — — 
			 875 Cheshire (32) — — — 70 60 91.0 
			 908 Cornwall 160 140 84.4 120 100 82.5 
			 909 Cumbria 20 20 89.5 30 20 57.1 
			 830 Derbyshire 200 190 92.5 240 230 95.4 
			 911 Devon (31) 330 190 56.4 — — — 
			 878 Devon (32) — — — 340 230 69.0 
			 835 Dorset 160 110 70.8 180 120 68.6 
			 845 East Sussex 160 110 68.4 130 100 72.5 
			 915 Essex (31) 570 430 75.7 — — — 
			 881 Essex (32) — — — 480 340 70.2 
			 916 Gloucestershire 330 260 78.4 460 340 73.9 
			 850 Hampshire 220 150 68.5 340 150 42.9 
			 919 Hertfordshire 1,280 1,040 81.0 1,930 1400 72.5 
			 922 Kent (31) 1,400 750 53.9 — — — 
			 886 Kent (32) — — — 1,120 700 62.8 
			 923 Lancashire (31) 1,880 1,480 78.5 — — — 
			 888 Lancashire (32) — — — 1,640 1,250 76.3 
			 855 Leicestershire 110 80 69.4 100 50 51.5 
			 925 Lincolnshire 300 260 85.7 300 250 82.6 
			 926 Norfolk 80 60 68.3 90 60 64.4 
			 815 North Yorkshire 400 340 85.4 470 400 85.4 
			 928 Northamptonshire 210 180 86.1 270 210 78.1 
			 929 Northumberland 100 100 93.3 80 80 100.0 
			 930 Nottinghamshire (31) 260 180 69.6 — — — 
			 891 Nottinghamshire (32) — — — 260 200 74.1 
			 931 Oxfordshire 180 160 92.1 290 220 76.5 
			 932 Shropshire (31) 400 350 86.9 — — — 
			 893 Shropshire(32) — — — 260 250 94.7 
			 933 Somerset 120 90 76.5 190 160 84.4 
			 860 Staffordshire 310 220 69.7 270 210 78.9 
			 935 Suffolk 110 70 66.0 170 100 58.5 
			 936 Surrey 700 500 72.1 550 430 79.3 
			 937 Warwickshire 580 470 79.8 490 390 80.1 
			 938 West Sussex 160 150 88.4 180 120 66.1 
			 865 Wiltshire 110 90 78.9 100 80 84.0 
			 918 Hereford and Worcester (31) 180 110 61.4 — — — 
			 885 Worcestershire (32) — — — 270 130 48.2 
		
	
	
		
			   1998/99 1999/2000 
			   Appeals lodged Appeals heard Percentage heard(30) Appeals lodged Appeals heard Percentage heard(30) 
		
		
			 840 Durham 230 150 65.3 200 120 59.7 
			 820 Bedfordshire 350 310 88.4 300 230 75.3 
			 825 Buckinghamshire 1,050 890 84.9 1,370 870 63.7 
			 905 Cambridgeshire (31) — — — — — — 
			 873 Cambridgeshire (32) 270 250 94.4 370 290 80.3 
			 906 Cheshire (31) — — — — — — 
			 875 Cheshire (32) 280 260 93.8 510 460 89.8 
			 908 Cornwall 220 180 79.4 380 330 86.0 
			 909 Cumbria 70 60 87.9 100 80 79.2 
			 830 Derbyshire 310 310 98.1 440 390 87.7 
			 911 Devon (31) — — — — — — 
			 878 Devon (32) 230 130 57.5 300 220 72.9 
			 835 Dorset 170 130 75.0 340 290 85.2 
			 845 East Sussex 230 160 69.8 340 270 81.0 
			 915 Essex (31) — — — — — — 
			 881 Essex (32) 590 430 72.5 720 540 75.5 
			 916 Gloucestershire 480 290 61.2 400 290 73.0 
			 850 Hampshire 420 200 46.8 300 180 61.7 
			 919 Hertfordshire 2,130 1,510 70.9 1,890 1,410 74.4 
			 922 Kent (31) — — — — — — 
			 886 Kent (32) 1,540 780 50.3 1,960 920 46.7 
			 923 Lancashire (31) — — — — — — 
			 888 Lancashire (32) 1,960 1,590 81.0 1,830 1,460 79.6 
			 855 Leicestershire 200 170 83.3 190 120 60.1 
			 925 Lincolnshire 390 290 74.0 410 320 78.4 
			 926 Norfolk 140 120 83.7 240 170 70.2 
			 815 North Yorkshire 610 530 86.9 470 390 82.9 
			 928 Northamptonshire 540 450 82.7 720 590 81.5 
			 929 Northumberland 110 100 95.3 110 110 98.2 
			 930 Nottinghamshire (31) — — — — — — 
			 891 Nottinghamshire (32) 210 190 88.2 490 260 53.6 
			 931 Oxfordshire 330 230 69.8 350 280 78.0 
			 932 Shropshire (31) — — — — — — 
			 893 Shropshire(32) 180 140 76.1 200 110 52.7 
			 933 Somerset 160 120 76.3 140 80 58.9 
			 860 Staffordshire 280 170 61.4 540 320 59.6 
			 935 Suffolk 290 190 66.7 310 210 67.5 
			 936 Surrey 790 610 77.9 800 600 74.3 
			 937 Warwickshire 610 480 78.7 740 580 78.1 
			 938 West Sussex 330 210 64.0 380 240 63.3 
			 865 Wiltshire 130 100 77.6 150 130 82.5 
			 918 Hereford and Worcester (31) — — — — — — 
			 885 Worcestershire (32) 250 140 57.3 400 240 60.8 
		
	
	
		
			   2000/01 2001/02 
			   Appeals lodged Appeals heard Percentage heard(30) Appeals lodged Appeals heard Percentage heard(30) 
		
		
			 840 Durham 210 140 68.6 290 210 70.9 
			 820 Bedfordshire 480 380 80.3 390 280 72.4 
			 825 Buckinghamshire 850 540 63.6 730 400 54.6 
			 905 Cambridgeshire (31) — — — — — — 
			 873 Cambridgeshire (32) 270 190 72.1 290 230 80.5 
			 906 Cheshire (31) — — — — — — 
			 875 Cheshire (32) 470 450 94.9 470 450 95.9 
			 908 Cornwall 430 280 64.4 700 390 56.3 
			 909 Cumbria 80 50 63.6 200 150 76.0 
			 830 Derbyshire 530 470 88.9 550 480 87.6 
			 911 Devon (31) — — — — — — 
			 878 Devon (32) 320 200 61.7 350 200 57.0 
			 835 Dorset 310 250 81.8 270 210 77.8 
			 845 East Sussex 290 230 78.9 300 230 77.2 
			 915 Essex (31) — — — — — — 
			 881 Essex (32) 980 760 77.6 1,340 950 71.1 
			 916 Gloucestershire 620 500 81.1 590 450 76.3 
			 850 Hampshire 620 430 68.6 560 370 65.2 
			 919 Hertfordshire 1,930 1,460 75.6 2,370 1,790 75.5 
			 922 Kent (31) — — — — — — 
			 886 Kent (32) 1,740 1,310 75.1 1,720 1,190 69.1 
			 923 Lancashire (31) — — — — — — 
			 888 Lancashire (32) 2,070 1,690 81.9 2,260 1,900 83.9 
			 855 Leicestershire 180 130 71.2 370 240 63.3 
			 925 Lincolnshire 680 500 73.5 520 410 79.1 
			 926 Norfolk 390 260 65.7 430 330 75.8 
			 815 North Yorkshire 920 690 74.8 600 470 78.7 
			 928 Northamptonshire 940 710 76.2 900 800 89.5 
			 929 Northumberland 150 120 79.2 230 200 88.9 
			 930 Nottinghamshire (31) — — — — — — 
			 891 Nottinghamshire (32) 430 290 67.1 560 380 66.8 
			 931 Oxfordshire 460 250 55.1 460 240 51.4 
			 932 Shropshire (31) — — — — — — 
			 893 Shropshire(32) 260 190 71.9 230 130 57.1 
			 933 Somerset 320 190 59.2 360 240 65.4 
			 860 Staffordshire 480 260 54.6 530 320 61.0 
			 935 Suffolk 400 250 61.4 440 280 64.4 
			 936 Surrey 640 460 70.9 720 570 78.6 
			 937 Warwickshire 830 670 80.7 1,070 820 76.4 
			 938 West Sussex 470 310 65.5 420 300 69.9 
			 865 Wiltshire 140 90 67.4 190 120 64.2 
			 918 Hereford and Worcester (31) — — — — — — 
			 885 Worcestershire (32) 450 290 63.6 500 340 68.7 
		
	
	
		
			   2002/03 2003/04 
			   Appeals lodged Appeals heard Percentage heard(30) Appeals lodged Appeals heard Percentage heard(30) 
		
		
			 840 Durham 400 270 68.8 320 190 60.3 
			 820 Bedfordshire 420 340 80.0 410 330 80.8 
			 825 Buckinghamshire 540 340 62.1 710 420 59.1 
			 905 Cambridgeshire (31) — — — — — — 
			 873 Cambridgeshire (32) 270 200 76.2 180 140 79.1 
			 906 Cheshire (31) — — — — — — 
			 875 Cheshire (32) 560 500 89.2 880 830 94.9 
			 908 Cornwall 780 480 62.5 690 410 59.4 
			 909 Cumbria 190 160 84.5 130 100 78.1 
			 830 Derbyshire 750 690 91.2 810 730 91.0 
			 911 Devon (31) — — — — — — 
			 878 Devon (32) 390 250 64.8 340 240 69.3 
			 835 Dorset 350 270 76.7 340 290 85.9 
			 845 East Sussex 260 190 74.7 340 230 66.8 
			 915 Essex (31) — — — — — — 
			 881 Essex (32) 1,600 1,030 64.7 1,550 1,070 69.0 
			 916 Gloucestershire 720 580 80.7 600 410 68.0 
			 850 Hampshire 580 320 55.0 390 230 59.0 
			 919 Hertfordshire 2,440 1,740 71.2 2,360 1,690 71.5 
			 922 Kent (31) — — — — — — 
			 886 Kent (32) 1,680 1,120 66.8 1,820 1,310 72.0 
			 923 Lancashire (31) — — — — — — 
			 888 Lancashire (32) 2,070 1,700 82.5 1,040 780 74.7 
			 855 Leicestershire 310 250 81.6 290 170 60.1 
			 925 Lincolnshire 630 430 68.2 580 490 84.4 
			 926 Norfolk 420 320 75.6 460 310 66.7 
			 815 North Yorkshire 560 420 73.7 480 410 83.9 
			 928 Northamptonshire 710 580 81.9 660 590 88.2 
			 929 Northumberland 190 140 76.3 200 160 78.7 
			 930 Nottinghamshire (31) — — — — — — 
			 891 Nottinghamshire (32) 690 440 64.0 490 330 66.9 
			 931 Oxfordshire 360 220 62.5 670 400 59.2 
			 932 Shropshire (31) — — — — — — 
			 893 Shropshire(32) 310 150 49.8 300 170 56.4 
			 933 Somerset 390 240 61.7 440 270 61.9 
			 860 Staffordshire 570 340 58.8 370 190 51.8 
			 935 Suffolk 290 200 69.0 310 190 63.0 
			 936 Surrey 610 430 69.8 650 480 74.1 
			 937 Warwickshire 920 700 75.2 680 530 78.9 
			 938 West Sussex 530 410 78.1 520 370 71.7 
			 865 Wiltshire 170 130 77.5 140 80 58.1 
			 918 Hereford and Worcester (31) — — — — — — 
			 885 Worcestershire (32) 570 370 65.4 420 280 67.5 
		
	
	(29)Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(30)Number of appeals heard by a panel expressed as a percentage of the number of appeals lodged by parents.
	(31)Before Local Government Reorganisation.
	(32)After Local Government Reorganisation.
	Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census

School Leavers

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people have left school at 16 years in (a) the Ribble Valley, (b) the North West and (c) England with no qualifications in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested can be found in the following table.
	
		Percentage of 15-year-old pupils with no passes
		
			  Ribble Valley North West England 
		
		
			 2003/04 3.0 4.3 4.1 
			 2002/03 3.6 5.4 5.2 
			 2001/02 1.9 5.3 5.4 
			 2000/01 1.1 5.5 5.5 
			 1999/2000 1.3 5.2 5.6 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.The information for this answer is derived from data collected for the School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables (formerly Performance Tables) that are published annually.
	2.As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year ie 31 August.
	3.For 2003/04 results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. For 1999/2000 to 2002/03 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only.
	4.Parliamentary constituency and regional figures are based only on all maintained schools (including city technology colleges and, from 2003, academies) and have been adjusted in respect of pupils recently arrived from overseas.
	5.England figures are based on all schools and have not been adjusted in respect of pupils recently arrived from overseas.
	6.Maintained secondary schools in Ribble Valley in 2004 were:
	Archbishop Temple Church of England High School and Technology College, Preston
	Bowland High School
	Clitheroe Royal Grammar School
	Corpus Christi Catholic High School
	Fulwood High School and Arts College
	Hillside School, Longridge
	Longridge High School
	Our Lady's Catholic High School
	Ribblesdale High School Technology College
	St. Augustine's Roman Catholic High School, Billington
	St. Cecilia's RC Technology College

School Management Information Systems

Eric Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2005, Official Report, column 698W, on school management information systems, what the average cost was of a core administration software package for (a) secondary, (b) primary and (c) special schools in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: The Department does not routinely collect information on the amount that individual schools spend from their delegated budgets on core administrative software packages.
	Becta, the Department's strategic partner for ICT in education, collects some market intelligence, often provided on a commercially confidential basis, as a part of its continuing strategic role in understanding and influencing market activity.
	From the available information, Becta is able to estimate typical costs, which suppliers derive by taking account of the number of pupils in a school and the range of software being licensed.
	Becta's understanding of the annual charges applied by suppliers to a typical primary school is:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1999 140 
			 2000/01 Between 200 and 210 
			 2002 Between 220 and 230 
			 2003 275 
			 2004 (33)380 
		
	
	(33)The latest year for which Becta has usable data
	Becta's understanding of the annual charges made by suppliers to a typical secondary school is:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1999 570 
			 2000 800 
			 2001 870 
			 2002 1,100 
			 2003 1,375 
			 2004 (34)1,900 
		
	
	(34)The latest year for which Becta has usable data
	It is not possible to estimate typical costs for special schools because of the different mix of age ranges of pupils and the scope and complexity of the curriculum structures within a particular school. These factors determine whether a school needs to license administrative software predominantly covering the needs of a primary school or a secondary school.
	These estimates do not reflect differences in the functionality and service levels offered by individual suppliers. Any comparisons between these estimates and charges made by a particular supplier must therefore take these into account and be made with caution.
	In addition to the estimated typical costs shown above, some suppliers also levy charges for services on local authority support teams. Depending on the policy of the education authority, these extra charges may be passed on to schools.

Second World War Anniversary

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department is taking to promote (a) knowledge of and (b) interest in the 60th anniversary of the end of the second world war in schools; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The national curriculum programmes of study for history cover teaching about Britain and the second world war at key stage 2 and the holocaust and the second world war in key stage 3. In addition the Department was instrumental in the creation of the national remembrance programme of Their Past Your Future", being delivered by the Imperial War Museum, and also 'Home Front Recall'.
	The Department worked with the MOD in its plans for commemoration last week. This work included preparing resources for schools attending the 'Living Museum' in St. James Park, such as education trails and a ration book. The DfES also continues to assist the MOD in its work on raising awareness and knowledge of veterans in society by helping educational organisations to prepare resources and facilities suitable for schools. This was particularly important for the build up to the 60th anniversary, as the DfES helped to co-ordinate and promote information and to advise on delivery.

Departmental Sickness Absence

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many days the Department has lost due to sickness in the past five years for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: My Department remains committed to managing sickness absence effectively and to putting in place the recommendations of the recently published report Managing Sickness Absence in the Public Sector".
	I refer the hon. Gentleman to the figures contained in the annual report Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service" published by the Cabinet Office. Table A of the report gives details of both the average working days absence per staff year and the number of staff years on which that calculation is based. The most recent report is for the calendar year 2003 and was announced by ministerial statement on 1 November and copies placed in the Libraries of the House. Reports for 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 are also available in the Library and on the Cabinet Office website at: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_information/conditions_of_service/caje/publications/index.asp# sickness.

Sixth Form Students

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will estimate the percentage of school leavers in (a) England, (b) Teesside and (c) the Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland constituency who went on to sixth form college in the last period for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: Estimates of the percentage of 16-year-olds participating in full-time education in sixth form colleges at end 2003 in England, the Tees Valley Learning and Skills Council area and LEAs within this area are given in table 1 as follows together with estimates of the total in full-time education in each area. Estimates are not available below LEA level.
	
		Table 1: Percentages of 16-year-olds in full-time education, end 2003 (provisional)
		
			  Full-time education in sixth form college Total full-time education 
		
		
			 England 10 72 
			 Tees Valley LSC 26 68 
			 Darlington LEA 32 69 
			 Hartlepool LEA 23 65 
			 Middlesbrough LEA 17 69 
			 Redcar and Cleveland LEA 29 63 
			 Stockton-on-Tees LEA 29 73

Special Educational Needs

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of Essex local education authority's policy on funding special needs pupils; and what changes in policy have taken place over the last three years;
	(2)  how much funding was allocated to each child in each special needs band by Essex local education authority in each of the last three years for which figures are available;
	(3)  what level of funding will be allocated to a moderate learning difficulty school in Essex in respect of a newly admitted Band (a) D, (b) E and (c) F special needs pupil in (i) 2005–06 and (ii) 2006–07;
	(4)  whether she expects Band (a) D, (b) E and (c) F special educational needs pupils currently in moderate learning difficulty schools in Essex will continue to receive their band funding in full during their entire time at the school.

Jacqui Smith: In its most recent inspection of Essex in October 2004, Ofsted said that, on support for special educational needs, the authority had strong, innovative and forward-thinking strategic leadership.
	The funding allocated to children with special educational needs is a matter for each local authority. The Department is unable to provide figures on the level of funding allocated to pupils with moderate learning difficulties in schools in Essex, to the level of detail requested.

Special Educational Needs

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the admissions procedure is for moderate learning difficulty schools in Essex; and what weighting is given to parental choice in the process;
	(2)  whether Essex local education authority has consulted (a) headteachers and staff, (b) parents, (c) county councillors, (d) hon. Members and (e) the public on possible changes to the system of funding (i)moderate learning difficulty and (ii) severe learning difficulty special needs pupils; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what system is used to band special educational needs children in Essex; and what process is used to make assessments;
	(4)  what admissions criteria Essex local education authority has placed on the admission of Band (a) D, (b) E and (c) F special educational needs children to moderate learning difficulty schools; and when these criteria were last revised.

Maria Eagle: Arranging provision for children with special educational needs (SEN) is a matter for schools and local education authorities (LEAS), within the framework set out in the Education Act 1996 and taking account of statutory guidance, such as the SEN Code of Practice. That framework and guidance sets out a graduated approach to meeting children's SEN, including, where necessary, a process for the assessment of children's SEN and the drawing up of SEN statements. Admission to special schools, including those for children with moderate learning difficulties, is through the school being 'named' on the statement, other than in exceptional circumstances, such as where a child is admitted for the purposes of an assessment.
	When a statement is being drawn up or the description of a child's educational needs on a statement and the provision to meet those needs is being amended, parents can ask for the school of their choice, mainstream or special, to be named. The LEA must consider the parents' preference carefully and whether the school is suitable for the child's needs and whether placing the child there is compatible with the education of other children at the school and the efficient use of resources. If the LEA does not name the parents' preferred school, the parents can appeal to the SEN and Disability Tribunal, whose decisions are binding on LEAs.
	The provision made for children with moderate and severe learning difficulties, and the funding for it in the case of those with statements, should be decided upon individually. However, it is open to LEAs to have general SEN funding arrangements, as long as they are prepared to vary those arrangements in individual cases. In May 2004 the Department published guidance on The management of SEN expenditure" which recommended that changes to funding arrangements should be consulted on widely. However, precise arrangements in each local authority area are matters for the relevant LEA.

Teachers Recruitment (Ethnic Minorities)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department is taking to promote the recruitment of teachers from ethnic minorities.

Jacqui Smith: The TTA's target since 2000 has been to increase recruitment of trainees from a minority ethnic background to 9 per cent. of total places. For courses beginning in autumn 2004, provisional figures for entry into initial teacher training show that 2,943 (9.1 per cent.) were from a minority ethnic background. This is an increase of 759 trainees (35 per cent.) since 2002.
	Despite meeting the 9 per cent. national target two years early, increasing recruitment of trainee teachers from a minority ethnic background further will continue to be a priority over the next three years at least.
	For 2005/06, the TTA has allocated £1.5 million of funding to enable initial teacher training institutions to take local action to increase their recruitment and retention of trainees. This funding has been used to provide race awareness training for staff involved in initial teacher training (ITT) courses; review and refine recruitment processes; develop targeted marketing of ITT courses to minority ethnic communities; facilitate application support workshops; update school mentor training and support other activities aimed at improving recruitment and retention.

Select Committee Report (Reading)

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will respond to the Education and Skills Select Committee report into the Teaching of Reading.

Jacqui Smith: The DfES response to the Select Committee report into the Teaching of Reading was sent to the clerk of the committee on Friday 7 July 2005.

Unemployed Graduates

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State forEducation and Skills what the unemployment rate among first degree graduates was one year after graduation in each year between 1994 and 2004.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information, which shows the percentage of newly qualified graduates who were unemployed six months after graduation, is shown in the table.
	
		Unemployment rates of UK domiciled full-time first degree graduates UK HE institutions
		
			   of which, those who were unemployed: 
			 Academic year Total graduates with known destination(35) Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1994/95 162,020 14,930 9 
			 1995/96 170,975 13,980 8 
			 1996/97 171,280 11,905 7 
			 1997/98 172,660 9,920 6 
			 1998/99 176,205 9,720 6 
			 1999/00 170,750 9,330 5 
			 2000/01 176,415 11,050 6 
			 2001/02 176,390 12,110 7 
			 2002/03 176,215 12,410 7 
			 2003/04 181,870 11,845 7 
		
	
	(35)The response rate for these surveys is around 80 per cent.; the graduate figures in the table therefore exclude those who did not respond to the survey.
	Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.
	Source:
	First Destination Survey (FDS) 1994/95–2001/02, and Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey (DLHE) for later years. Both surveys are conducted by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
	Additional research commissioned by the Department on the longer term career patterns of graduates shows that destinations at the six month point are not representative of longer-term outcomes. A survey of 1995 graduates shows a significant fall in unemployment rates over time. After one year post-graduation, 5.2 per cent. of graduates were out of work, falling further still to 2.6 per cent. after two years, and 1.3 per cent. after three and a half years. 1
	In addition, projections of occupational demand show that of the 13.5 million total jobs expected to be filled by 2012, 50 per cent.—that is, 6.8 million—are in occupations most likely to demand graduates 2 .
	1 Data from Elias, P et al (1999) Moving On: graduate careers three years after graduation." CSU/DfEE.
	2 Based on data from Wilson, R et al (2004) Working Futures: new projections of occupational employment by sector and region, 2002–2012" IER, Warwick.

Voluntary-aided Schools

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans are being considered for (a) voluntary-aided and (b) voluntary-aided faith schools in Teesside.

Jacqui Smith: Local authorities have the statutory responsibility for planning school places in their area. The local authorities on Teesside will therefore liaise with the churches, other faith organisations and governing bodies about plans for their schools. Independent promoters, including church and faith organisations, may also publish proposals to open new faith schools at any time. The Department has no role in the planning process.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Telecommunications 3G Masts

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2005, Official Report, column 317W, on mobile phone masts/technology, what estimate the Government have made of the number of 3G masts necessary to have a 100 per cent. coverage of the population.

Yvette Cooper: The Government have made no estimate of the number of 3G masts necessary to have a 100 per cent. coverage of the population. The Government will be commissioning further research to identify the future direction of mobile phone technology and the future need for mast developments.

Affordable Housing

Margaret Moran: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many affordable housing units built or procured through the Housing Corporation Approved Development Programme and Challenge Fund have been (a) mixed funded social rented housing, (b) temporary social rented housing, (c) Homebuy general market purchase, (d) Homebuy general new build, (e) mixed funded low cost home ownership for sale, (f) miscellaneous works to registered social landlord (RSL) stock, (g) reimprovements to rented RSL stock, (h) works only rehabilitation of rented RSL stock, (i) works only rehabilitation of RSL stock for sale, (j) intermediate rent for key workers, (k) Homebuy market purchase for key workers, (l) Homebuy new build for key workers, (m) mixed funded sale for key workers and (n) Starter Home Initiative in the east region in each year since 1997–98; and how much was spent on each category in each year.

Yvette Cooper: The following tables show the number of homes built or acquired, and funding provided, through the Housing Corporation Approved Development Programme, the Challenge Fund and the Starter Home Initiative, in the east region for categories from (a) to (n) , for each year since 1997–98.
	Funding and completions are not directly comparable, as funding will relate to projects running, not necessarily units completed, in any one year.
	The information in the tables does not include all programmes that the ADP is used for and therefore does not represent the total funding for the north east region. Other categories with funding during the time period covered by the table are Right to Acquire, Voluntary Purchase Grant, Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership, and Temporary Intermediate and Market Rent Housing.
	
		Number of homes built or acquired in the eastern region
		
			   1997–97 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 (a) Mixed Funded Rent 1,726 2,170 1,708 1,573 1,576 1,629 1,492 1,826 
			 (b) Temporary rent 122 175 88 68 52 20 38 13 
			 (c) Homebuy market purchase n/a n/a 0 145 105 155 242 3 
			 (d) Homebuy New Build n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 (e) Mixed Funded sale 316 135 65 75 53 34 127 129 
			 (f) Miscellaneous Works n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 (g) Re-improvements rent n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 (h) Works only rehabilitation for rent n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 (i) Works only rehabilitation for sale n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 (j) Intermediate rent for Keyworkers n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 64 
			 (k) Homebuy Market Purchase for Keyworkers n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 485 
			 (l) Homebuy New Build for Keyworkers n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 (m) Mixed Funded sale for Keyworkers n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 28 
			   
			 Challenge Fund  
			 (a) Mixed Funded Rent n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 35 157 
			 (d) Homebuy New Build n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 6 0 
			 (e) Mixed Funded sale n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 13 48 
			  Intermediate Rent n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 22 25 
			   
			 (n) Starter Home Initiative n/a n/a n/a n/a 4 147 486 52 
		
	
	Miscellaneous works, re-improvements to rented RSL stock, works only rehabilitation of rented RSL stock and works only rehabilitation of RSL stock for sale are not recorded as completed dwellings as they may previously have received funding and could therefore be double-counted.
	
		Expenditure in the eastern region for the listed categories -- £ million
		
			   1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 (a) Mixed Funded Rent 28.78 25.68 32.36 35.58 44.14 51.47 75.66 93.08 
			 (b) Temporary rent 0.80 0.82 0.55 0.44 0.37 0.14 0.36 0.17 
			 (c) Homebuy market purchase n/a n/a 1.28 2.91 2.55 4.36 7.72 5.06 
			 (d) Homebuy New Build n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0.00 
			 (e) Mixed Funded sale 1.85 0.97 0.75 0.42 0.71 1.62 2,82 10.05 
			 (f) Miscellaneous Works 2.57 2.30 2.15 2.56 3.16 3.95 3.23 1.25 
			 (g) Re-improvements rent 0.09 0.12 0.08 0.83 0.24 0.68 0.28 0.20 
			 (h) Works only rehabilitation for rent 0.28 0.25 0.12 0.09 0.08 0.12 0.19 0.00 
			 (i) Works only rehabilitation for sale n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0.09 
			 (j) Intermediate rent for Keyworkers n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 3.50 
			 (k) Homebuy Market Purchase for Keyworkers n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 17.00 
			 (l) Homebuy New Build for Keyworkers n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0.00 
			 (m) Mixed Funded sale for Keyworkers n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 3.47 
			   
			 Challenge Fund  
			 (a) Mixed Funded Rent n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 16.19 2.37 
			 (d) Homebuy New Build n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0.24 0 
			 (e) Mixed Funded sale n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 4.44 0.21 
			  Intermediate Rent n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 142 0.1 
			   
			 (n) Starter Home Initiative n/a n/a n/a n/a 0.06 3.07 10.06 1.29

Audit Commission

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the (a) budget of and (b) number of full-time equivalent staff employed by the Audit Commission was in each year since its creation; and what the estimated figure is for 2005–06.

Phil Woolas: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission. I will ask the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member and to ensure the answer is made available to the House.

Local Government Research

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost is of the research his Department has commissioned from BMG Research on people's views on local authorities; how many people will be surveyed; how the replies will be collated; when the results will be published; how recipients of questionnaires were selected; and for what purposes the research was commissioned.

Phil Woolas: BMG have been contracted by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister through the Local and Regional Government Research Programme to undertake a national level survey which will track public satisfaction rates with local government and its services between rounds of the BVPI surveys that all English local authorities are required to undertake every three years. This survey will also provide information which will allow for the current standardised BVPI user-satisfaction questionnaire to be developed into an instrument that is of even more practical value to local authorities in understanding drivers of satisfaction with local government and the actions that can be taken to address them at a local level.
	BMG have sent 8,000 questionnaires to individuals across England as part of this national survey.
	The sample for the survey was selected randomly from the Postal Address File. Thus every address listed on the Postal Address File had an equal chance of being sent a questionnaire. Returns are anonymised and treated in the strictest confidentiality.
	BMG will be paid £36,000 plus VAT by ODPM for the national survey of public-satisfaction with local government and its services. This survey is currently in the field.
	The responses to the survey will be entered into a statistical computer package which will collate the data.
	The data collection and analysis for this work is likely to be completed by the autumn of 2005. A report on this work will be subsequently published by the end of 2005.

Business Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the average reduction in bills for small business rate relief in England in 2005–06.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister estimates the average relief to be around £650.

Business Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1) what estimate the Government have made of the notional revenue forgone from introducing small business rate relief in England in 2005–06;
	(2)  what estimate the Government have made of the revenue raised from increasing the business rates multiplier by 0.7 pence for medium and large firms.

Phil Woolas: On the basis of returns completed by local authorities before the start of the current financial year, an estimated £390 million is expected to be claimed in small business rate relief for 2005–06 and an estimated £355 million raised from those business properties not eligible for the relief. These estimates will be revised in due course in the light of actual applications made for relief and the amount of revenue actually collected from non-eligible properties. Applications for small business rate relief may be made up to six months after the end of the financial year to which the application relates, or six months from notification of an alteration to a rateable value that makes the hereditament eligible for relief.

Business Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the claim rate for small business rate relief in England in 2005–06.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister estimates the claim rate for small business rate relief in England for 2005–06, per rateable value band, to be as follows.
	
		
			 Rateable value band (£) Midpoint Percentage relief for midpoint Assumed claim rate (percentage) 
		
		
			 0–1,500 750 50 22.1 
			 1,501–2,500 2,000 50 50.9 
			 2,501–3,000 2,750 50 49.2 
			 3,001–4,000 3,500 50 48.2 
			 4,001–5,000 4,500 50 52.9 
			 5,001–6,500 5,750 42.5 54.9 
			 6,501–8,000 7,250 27.5 47.9 
			 8,001–9,000 8,500 15 52.9 
			 9,001–10,000 9,500 5 52.9

Social Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people were registered on council housing waiting lists in each local authority (a) in 1997and (b) on the last date for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: Information on the number of households on the housing waiting list (excluding tenants awaiting a transfer) in each local authority in England has been placed in the Library of the House. Figures provided are as at 1 April 1997 and 2004, the latest year available.
	Local authorities sometimes maintain a common waiting list with the RSLs, sometimes known as Housing Associations, in their district. However, information is not held centrally where a RSL maintains a separate waiting list to the local authority.

Social Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many families were housed in temporary accommodation by each local authority (a) in 1997 and (b) on the last date for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: Information reported each quarter by local authorities about their activities under homelessness legislation includes the number of households in temporary accommodation on the last day of the quarter, and since 2002 those that include dependent children or a pregnant woman.
	A table presenting information on the number of households in temporary accommodation by each local authority as at 31 March 1997, and the number as at 31 March 2005 (the latest available date) together with the number that contain dependent children or a pregnant woman, has been placed in the Library of the House.
	The Government have set a target to halve the number of households in temporary accommodation by 2010. Homeless acceptances in the first quarter of 2005 were 20 per cent. lower than the corresponding period in 2004.

Social Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Department keeps a list of tenants' advisers for housing transfers.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has a record of tenants' advisers who undertake a range of work which may include work related to housing transfer, but which primarily relates to work on training and networking. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not maintain a list of approved" tenants advisers solely for housing transfer work.

Social Housing

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homes have been built in the social rented sector as a result of planning gain agreements between developers and local authorities in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: Information has only been collected centrally since 2000–01. An estimate of the annual number of units of dwellings provided for the social rented sector in England under Section 106 agreements without other funding since 2000–01 are in the following table:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2000–01 700 
			 2001–02 1,000 
			 2002–03 700 
			 2003–04 1,500 
		
	
	Source:
	Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix returns from local authorities to ODPM.
	Further dwellings are delivered with fixed funding.

Social Housing

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homes have been built for the social rented sector by local authorities or other registered social landlords in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The annual numbers of dwellings built for rent by either local authorities or by registered social landlords (through Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme and Transitional Local Authority Social Housing Grant) are in the following table:
	
		
			  Local authority Registered social landlords 
		
		
			 1997–98 323 22,851 
			 1998–99 194 22,278 
			 1999–2000 88 19,513 
			 2000–01 179 17,303 
			 2001–02 63 17,494 
			 2002–03 200 16,601 
			 2003–04 180 (36)16,100 
		
	
	(36)Includes estimation
	Source:
	Local Authority house building returns (P2) to ODPM; Housing Corporation

Social Housing

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will produce guidance for housing associations and local authorities on support for tenants (a) with mental health problems and (b) who exhibit antisocial behaviour.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) has already published a range of guidance on these two areas.
	ODPM is committed to working closely with the Home Office and the Housing Corporation, as part of the 'TOGETHER' campaign to support social landlords and other relevant practitioners in tackling antisocial behaviour by way of balanced approaches involving prevention, support and enforcement. This includes providing material aimed at social landlords on the Together website, access to a helpline (the Together hotline) and the Together Academy (a centre of excellence in tackling all aspects of ASB).
	Guidance produced is as follows:
	(a) In April 2004, ODPM published guidance Achieving positive shared outcomes in health and homelessness", jointly with the Department of Health, to local authorities, PCTs and other health providers on key positive outcomes which health and housing partnerships might work towards, including improving mental health treatment and preventing homelessness through targeted health support.
	(b) Action on Mental Health" was published by ODPM in October 2004 as a follow up to the Mental Health and Social Exclusion report published in June 2004. The pack contains a number of factsheets aimed at both service users and service providers and gives guidance to promoting social inclusion for adults who are affected by mental health problems. The factsheet on housing gives information on ensuring appropriate housing allocations, enabling someone to keep their home and preventing and addressing homelessness for this vulnerable group.
	(c) In March 2005, ODPM published guidance on Accommodation and support options for people with mental health problems". This was primarily aimed at local authority Supporting People officers and local service commissioners, but will also be of assistance to landlords in understanding the needs and support options of tenants.
	The Housing Corporation's Regulatory Code and guidance sets out the fundamental obligations and expectations of registered social landlords. In July 2004 the corporation published circular Tenancy Management: Eligibility and Evictions" which provides guidance on RSLs working with local authorities and other agencies to arrange appropriate support, so that it is available at the beginning of a tenancy, to those individuals whose assessments indicate vulnerability for whatever reason.
	In August 2004 the corporation published circular Statutory Housing Management Guidance on Anti-social Behaviour Policies and Procedures" which sets out the corporation's expectations of RSLs' compliance with section 12 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 and how compliance will be assessed. In addition the corporation has published statutory guidance on the prevention of antisocial behaviour including measures such as mediation services, uniformed warden patrols and reward schemes for tenants with a record of a well conducted tenancy.

Social Housing

Alan Simpson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for North-West Leicestershire (David Taylor) on 29 June 2005, Official Report, columns 1295–96W, if he will break down the £6.5 billion levered into the housing sector via stock transfers by source; and what the market value is of the transferred stock now managed by (a) arm's length management organisation, (b) registered social landlords and (c) the private sector.

Yvette Cooper: Stock transfers are always to a Registered Social Landlord (RSL). In both ALMOs and PFI the ownership of the stock stays with the council. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister do not hold information on the source of the private finance levered in by an RSL through stock transfer or the current market value of the transferred stock.

Social Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the registered social landlords which have been the subject of mergers or take-overs since 1998; and how many homes belong to each.

Yvette Cooper: Details of transfer of engagements or undertakings between RSLs for the past two years have been placed in the Library of the House. The cost to the Housing Corporation of searching back through individual RSL files to provide details of cases from 1998 to April 2003 to find out whether a merger had taken place or not would be disproportionate.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the presence of a shed in the garden of a residential property will be taken into account as a property attribute in the council tax revaluation.

Phil Woolas: The purpose of the council tax revaluation is to establish the market value of properties at 1 April 2005. In order to do this the Valuation Office Agency will look at certain attributes of properties as a means of ensuring that they are valued fairly and accurately in relation to one another. Garden sheds are not one of these attributes.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people have been fined for non-payment of council tax in England in each year since 1997–98.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer given on 20 June 2005, Official Report, column 817W.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the written statement of 7 July 2005, Official Report, columns 14–15WS, on council tax capping 2005–06, what the Band D council tax in 2005–06 is in each of the eight local authorities which have been designated for capping; what the (a) pre-capping band D district precept including average parish precepts and (b) pre-capping band D bill for the whole billing authority of each is; and what the estimated revised (i) post-capping band D district precept including average parish precepts and (ii) band D bill for the whole billing authority of each is.

Phil Woolas: The information requested for authorities designated for capping in 2005–06 is tabled as follows:
	
		
			 Authority Pre-capping band D district precept (including parish precepts) Pre-capping band D: whole billing authority Estimated post-capping band D district precept (including parish precepts) Estimated post-capping band D: whole billing authority 
		
		
			 Aylesbury Vale 161 1,223 159 1,221 
			 Daventry 167 1,178 159 1,171 
			 Hambleton 102 1,188 96 1,182 
			 Huntingdonshire 161 1,191 155 1,184 
			 Mid Bedfordshire 166 1,336 159 1,329 
			 North Dorset 146 1,289 131 1,275 
			 Runnymede 118 1,193 110 1,185 
			 South Cambridgeshire 186 1,216 139 1,169 
		
	
	Notes:
	Estimated post capping figures assume that authorities reduce their budgets to the maximum permitted budget requirement. Although parish precepts have been included they are not subject to capping. In addition, the principles set for 2005–06 were applied to each authority individually and not to 'the whole billing authority'.

Departmental Staff

David Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many full-time equivalents have worked for the Department for each of the last five financial years for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to Table C of Civil Service Statistics 2004 which is available on the internet at http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_ information/statistical_information/statistics/publications/xls/report_2004/table_ c.xls
	This table shows the numbers of staff by Department and agency between 1998 and 2004, on a full-time equivalent basis. Copies of Civil Service Statistics are also available in the Library of the House.

Building Regulations (Domestic Water Appliances)

Mary Creagh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will amend building regulations to limit the temperature on domestic water appliances to minimise the risk of scalding.

Yvette Cooper: Hot water safety has been considered in the review of part G of the Building Regulations; limiting the risk of scalding has been discussed. Direct control of temperatures is one of the options, although there are other ways of addressing it. Currently there are no immediate plans to introduce specific measures.

Empty Homes

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his latest estimate is of the number of empty homes in each local authority area in England.

Yvette Cooper: The available information on empty homes in each local authority area in England has been made available in the Library of the House. This data has been provided from a combination of the ODPM's Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix return and Housing Corporation's Regulatory and Statistical Return. The total number of vacant dwellings in 2004 was 693,800, a drop of 73,400 since 1997.

English Regions Network

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the (a) role and (b) funding of the English Regions Network.

Yvette Cooper: The English Regions Network is the umbrella body for the regional assemblies outside London. Its primary role is to represent the collective views of the regional assemblies to Government and other key institutions; encourage new thinking and research in areas of concern to regions; to share best practice and facilitate inter regional networking amongst assemblies.
	The English Regions Network is funded from the ODPM grant allocation to the regional assemblies. In 2005–06 the level of grant payable will be £194,000.

Fire and Rescue Services

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his estimate is of the amount of income which will be raised from charging under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 in the 2005–06 financial year.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Section 19 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 states that taking one year with another" a Fire and Rescue Authority (FRA) may not recover more in charges for its total provision of services in a particular category than it incurred in making that provision. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister do not collect data on the amount raised by FRAs through s19 charging.

Fire and Rescue Services

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which fire authorities have submitted plans for charging under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004; and what charges have been approved in each case.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Section 19 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 provides for the Secretary of State to make an order specifying categories of service for which a Fire and Rescue Authority (FRA) may charge. The first such order (SI 2004/2305) specifies 16 such categories. FRAs do not need any further permission from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to charge under these categories. ODPM do not collate information centrally on which FRAs have decided to charge for a specified category.

Fire and Rescue Services

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what criteria were used to determine the membership of county fire authorities; what guidance has been issued on their composition; and if he will require authorities to include members of district councils in their membership.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Where the county council is the county fire and rescue authority, the membership of the fire and rescue committee is governed by the normal arrangements for local authority committees, and the guidance issued in respect of such committees applies. The membership of a Combined Fire Authority, such as Lancashire, is set out in the relevant Combination Scheme. The Lancashire Fire Services (Combination Scheme) Order 1997 follows the usual pattern and provides for members from the county council and from the unitary authorities in the former county area, i.e.Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen. I have no plans to change these arrangements.

Fire and Rescue Services

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the Government plans to extend insurance cover for fire fighters; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to extend insurance cover for firefighters; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Government do not provide insurance cover for firefighters. Firefighter pay, pension and injury arrangements reflect the nature of the job and the risks that may be incurred.
	Cabinet Office is working with other Government Departments to address the cross-emergency service issue concerning terrorism exclusions in some personal insurance policies.

Fire and Rescue Services

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what commitment the Government gave to extend insurance cover for the fire fighters in the 2003 pay agreement.

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what commitment the Government gave to extend insurance cover for firefighters in the 2003 pay agreements.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Government do not provide insurance cover for firefighters. Firefighter pay, pension and injury arrangements reflect the nature of the job and the risks that may be incurred. Depending on the circumstances of an individual, these can provide a lump sum of up to seven times pensionable pay in the event of death and an ill-health pension and injury benefits giving up to 85 per cent. of salary in the event of an injury curtailing earning capacity.
	Cabinet Office is working with other Government Departments to address the cross emergency service issue concerning terrorism exclusions in some personal insurance policies.

Fire and Rescue Services

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what changes have been made to insurance cover for firefighters since May 1997.

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what changes have been made to insurance cover for firefighters since May 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Government do not provide insurance cover for firefighters. Firefighter pay, pension and injury arrangements reflect the nature of the job and the risks that may be incurred.
	Cabinet Office is working with other Government Departments to address the cross emergency service issue concerning terrorism exclusions in some personal insurance policies.

Fire and Rescue Services

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what insurance cover is provided for firefighters; whether this includes terrorism cover; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the standard insurance policy for firefighters.

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what insurance cover is provided for firefighters; whether this includes terrorism cover; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the standard insurance policy for firefighters.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Government do not provide insurance cover for firefighters. Firefighter pay, pension and injury arrangements reflect the nature of the job and the risks that may be incurred. Individuals may take out personal insurance policies, which may include terrorism cover, however this is a matter of personal choice for those individuals.
	Cabinet Office is working with other Government Departments to address the cross emergency service issue concerning terrorism exclusions in some personal insurance policies.

Fire and Rescue Services

David Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects the regional fire control rooms to be operational; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Current project completion is scheduled for the first quarter of 2009. Subject to final decisions on the project, this timetable will be revised, and a new one published as soon as practicable.

Fische Planning Appeal Inquiry

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reasons his Department provided details of the planning appeal inquiry into the Fische in Shoreham-by-Sea to the press before informing the appellants and Adur council.

Yvette Cooper: The normal procedure in such cases is for the appellants and council to receive notification of decisions by recorded delivery in advance of any wider announcement. I am sorry that, as a result of a misunderstanding between the issuing office and the Government News Network in this case, the local press was notified on the same date as the letters were despatched to the appellants and the council. I regret the apparent lack of courtesy in this case which was certainly not intended.

Fische Planning Appeal Inquiry

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1) whether he plans to issue further planning guidance on the mooring of houseboats following the ruling on the Fische in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  why houseboats are not considered to be developments for planning purposes.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to issue guidance on the mooring of houseboats. Because they are mobile property, boats are 'chattels' rather than buildings or structures. This means they are outside planning control unless one is moored for so long in the same place that it can be regarded as bringing about a material change of use of land. Local planning authorities have enforcement powers where land-use is changed without the necessary permission.

Gypsy/Traveller Sites

Julie Morgan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers in Essex in each year since 1994; and what provision has been made by local councils to meet this need.

Yvette Cooper: The Government do not make detailed assessment of accommodation needs for Gypsies and Travellers in particular areas. It is for local authorities to make such assessments when considering what provision to make. The Housing Act 2004 requires local authorities to carry out a housing needs assessment for Gypsies and Travellers. Under the provisions of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, local authorities must identify sites within their local plans to meet any identified need.
	It is understood that Essex county council is in the process of carrying out a housing needs assessment. Local authorities in Essex provide 165 pitches on 11 sites. These currently accommodate some 249 caravans.

Gypsy/Traveller Sites

Julie Morgan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he has asked the Law Commission to include legal protection for those living on rented Gypsy and Traveller sites in its review of tenancy law.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not asked the Law Commission to include Gypsy and Traveller site issues in its review of tenancy law. The issues are being considered within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Gypsy/Traveller Sites

Julie Morgan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many inquiries he has received from registered social landlords seeking information about borrowing capital for the development of Gypsy and Traveller sites; what steps he has taken to publicise his policy on such loans; when he expects to publish guidelines; and how he intends to (a) promote this policy and (b) monitor its effectiveness.

Yvette Cooper: Secondary legislation providing for registered social landlords (RSLs) to provide sites for Gypsies and Travellers will come into force in time forthe next bidding round for 2006–07. This facility has already been publicised in a variety of ways, including in Parliament and in the Government's response to the ODPM Select Committee Inquiry. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be explaining the new arrangements in more detail to RSLs, in general terms via guidance from the Housing Corporation and through specific bidding guidance on the next bidding round. This guidance will include an explanation of arrangements for monitoring the progress of schemes. Clearly it is too early to assess the effectiveness of this policy, but we will be keeping the progress of this initiative under close review as part of a wider package of measures we are taking to promote increased site provision generally.

Gypsy/Traveller Sites

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Government have to give stronger powers to local councils to (a) remove illegal Traveller camps and (b) tackle unauthorised development.

Yvette Cooper: Local authorities and the police have strong powers under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to evict unauthorised encampments of Gypsies and Travellers from land. The Department has also introduced new police powers in the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 which will enable the police to remove Gypsies and Travellers from unauthorised encampments with greater speed.
	Under powers in the 1990 Town and Country Planning Act, as amended by the 1991 Planning and Compensation Act, local planning authorities have wide-ranging enforcement powers to deal with unauthorised development. Since 7 March this year, local planning authorities have been able to use temporary stop notices, where they consider that there has been a breach of planning control and it is important that the activity which amounts to the breach is stopped.
	The use of these powers is very varied across the country. The Department is working with local authorities and the police to improve the understanding and use of these powers and to renew their operation to see if further action is needed.

Gypsy/Traveller Sites

Julie Morgan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he has taken in response to the Council of Ministers' request for legal changes on licences and tenancies to give effect to the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights in the O'Connor case.

Yvette Cooper: The Housing Act 2004 s.211 allows judges to suspend eviction orders against residents of local authority Gypsy and Traveller sites. This brings the situation for residents of local authority sites in line with those on private Gypsy and Travellers sites and those with secure tenancies in bricks and mortar housing in this respect. The provision came into force on 18 January 2005.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister recognises that the provisions of the Housing Act do not fully address the issues raised by the Connors case, and is continuing to consider issues of tenure of local authority Gypsy and Traveller sites.

Homelessness

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the actual revenue grant payments made by the Homelessness Directorate were in support of local homelessness strategies in each local authority in London in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05.

Yvette Cooper: The following table provides details of actual revenue grant payments made by the Homelessness and Housing Support Directorate to local authorities in London. It also shows the full revenue allocations, as some payments are subject to authorities submitting outstanding supporting documentation.
	Funding provided by the Directorate has supported action to successfully reduce rough sleeping by more than 70 per cent. since 1998, end the use of B&B hotels as long-term accommodation for families with children, and develop homelessness strategies and preventive approaches which have resulted in the first sustained fall in new cases of homelessness for nearly a decade. Homelessness acceptances dropped by 20 per cent. in 2004.
	The National Audit Office have estimated that, by achieving reductions in the use of B&B hotels for families, local authorities nationally have achieved annual savings of up to £50 million. London authorities were generally the highest users of B&B accommodation so will have accrued significant savings.
	In addition to providing revenue grants the Directorate has also, since 2004–05, provided capital funding to authorities and also provides grants to voluntary sector agencies providing services across more than one borough. Capital funding to London authorities was £10.8 million in 2004–05 and is increasing to £14.9 million in 2005–06. Including capital grants and funding to voluntary sector agencies funding from the Directorate to London has increased from £42.7 million in 2003–04 to £43.7 million in 2004–05 and will increase further to £44.0 million in 2005–06. These figures exclude homelessness capital funding provided from the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme.
	Homelessness grants supplement a number of other programmes that help local authorities to tackle homelessness, including housing capital investment, Supporting People and Revenue Support Grant which was increased by £8 million per annum to enable authorities to prepare the homelessness strategies required by the Homelessness Act 2002.
	
		£
		
			  Homelessness revenue grant payments: Homelessness revenue grant allocations: 
			  2003–04 2004–05 2004–05 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 68,000 14,000 28,000 
			 Barnet 416,787 123,750 165,000 
			 Bexley 130,800 58,000 58,000 
			 Brent 1,423,000 783,000 783,000 
			 Bromley 183,500 75,000 100,000 
			 Camden 1,834,192 1,808,000 1,808,000 
			 Corporation of London 206,000 515,000 515,000 
			 Croydon Council 1,104,000 600,000 600,000 
			 Ealing 1,224,608 600,000 600,000 
			 Enfield 491,376 250,000 250,000 
			 Greenwich 113,000 100,000 100,000 
			 Hackney 646,000 690,000 690,000 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,300,500 1,500,000 1,500,000 
			 Haringey 491,000 150,000 200,000 
			 Harrow 181,001 183,000 183,000 
			 Havering 26,966 20,250 27,000 
			 Hillingdon 779,712 80,000 80,000 
			 Hounslow 459,000 135,000 180,000 
			 Islington 162,091 0 357,000 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1,565,511 943,000 943,000 
			 Kingston upon Thames 121,000 67,500 90,000 
			 Lambeth 1,119,293 1,600,000 2,100,000 
			 Lewisham 102,395 75,000 100,000 
			 Merton 75,000 80,000 80,000 
			 Newham 1,257,000 192,500 255,000 
			 Redbridge 292,000 79,000 105,000 
			 Richmond 386,576 295,000 295,000 
			 Southwark 996,508 1,100,000 1,100,000 
			 Sutton 192,999 112,500 150,000 
			 Tower Hamlets 838,950 800,000 800,000 
			 Waltham Forest 383,000 150,000 200,000 
			 Wandsworth 546,000 300,000 300,000 
			 Westminster 4,434,374 7,366,000 7,366,000

Homelessness

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will break down Homelessness Directorate funding in support of local homelessness strategies by Government Office Region for each year since 2002–03.

Yvette Cooper: The Homelessness and Housing Support Directorate provide both revenue and capital funding to support the implementation of local homelessness strategies. While predominantly provided to local authorities some funding, particularly in London, is provided direct to voluntary sector agencies.
	The following table breaks down homelessness grants by Government Office Region.
	
		£ million
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 London 43.6 42.7 43.7 44.0 
			 Eastern England 3.5 3.3 3.0 3.0 
			 East Midlands 2.6 2.2 4.3 3.4 
			 North East 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.0 
			 North West 4.3 4.0 3.6 4.1 
			 South East 6.6 6.4 5.9 6.6 
			 South West 5.2 4.3 4.5 3.8 
			 West Midlands 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.3 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 1.8 1.7 2.1 3.0 
		
	
	Note:
	These figures exclude homelessness capital funding provided from the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme.
	Homelessness grants represent only one element of the funding available to local authorities, supplementing other programmes that help authorities to tackle homelessness, including housing capital investment, Supporting People and Revenue Support Grant.

Homelessness

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which local authorities in London will receive less Homelessness Directorate funding in support of local homelessness strategies in 2005–06 than they did in 2004–05; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Homelessness and Housing Support Directorate provides both revenue and capital funding to support the implementation of local homelessness strategies.
	Overall homelessness funding to local authorities in London has increased from £32.9 million in 2004–05 to £34.8 million in 2005–06. Including grants paid direct to voluntary sector agencies, funding in London has increased from £43.7 million to £44 million over these two years. These figures exclude homelessness capital funding provided from the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme.
	Within this overall increase 12 authorities had funding maintained at the same level, eight had their funding increased and 13 had their funding reduced.
	The 13 that saw a reduction in funding are: Barnet, Corporation of London, Croydon, Greenwich, Hounslow, Islington, Lewisham, Newham, Redbridge, Southwark, Sutton, Wandsworth and Westminster.
	Of these Barnet, Greenwich, Hounslow, Islington, Redbridge and Sutton saw reductions of less than £40,000, for the Corporation of London the reduction was due to the transfer of funding for one project to another authority and for Lewisham and Westminster the reduction was due to elements of capital funding coming to completion.

Design for Manufacture Competition

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister in which Government Office Regions he expects the homes provided under the Government's £60,000 homes competition will be built; and whether he expects homeswill be built on (a) formerly contaminated land and (b) privately owned land.

Yvette Cooper: The sites in the design for manufacture competition are located in the South East (seven sites), East Midlands (one site), London (one site) and Yorkshire and the Humber (one site).
	All the sites in the Design for Manufacture competition include formerly contaminated land. Site appraisal will be carried out in due course.
	All the sites are owned by the public sector. School Road, Hastings, is owned by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and all the other sites are owned by English Partnerships.

Design for Manufacture Competition

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate the Government has made, or what conditions the Government has required, for the longevity or building life of the residential accommodation provided in the £60,000 home competition.

Yvette Cooper: All the homes to be built through the Design for Manufacture competition will be to high quality standards. The competition evaluation process includes examination of the component life, building process and material performance of the construction process proposed by bidders as well as the maintenance costs and the environmental sustainability of the proposals. The competition also requires that all building methods proposed are capable of achieving all necessary approvals, including conformity with current building regulations and certification by the National House Building Council, and are also capable of being insured and attracting mortgage lending.

Housing Standards

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the proportion of households satisfied with the quality of homes in whichthey live (a) in England and (b) in deprived areas in each year since 1996–97 for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: Figures on households' overall satisfaction with their accommodation for (a) England and (b) deprived areas for each year since 1996–97 are in the following table.
	
		Percentage of households that said they were satisfied with their accommodation
		
			  England Deprived areas 
		
		
			 1996–97 90 83 
			 1997–98 91 84 
			 1998–99 91 85 
			 1999–2000 91 85 
			 2000–01 91 83 
			 2001–02 91 85 
			 2002–03 92 86 
			 2003–04 91 82 
		
	
	Source:
	Survey of English Housing.
	The deprived areas" referred to in the above table are the 10 per cent. most deprived wards in England as based on a combination of measures covering six domains: income; employment; health and disability; education and skills; housing; and geographical access to services.

Housing Standards

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what role the Government offices of the regions play in setting targets and priorities for local councils in relation to housing.

Yvette Cooper: The Government Offices work closely with local authorities to support them deliver targets and priorities determined by central Government. For example, helping local authorities ensure that all their properties by 2010 (and an increased proportion of private sector homes occupied by vulnerable people) meet the Decent Homes standard.

Milton Keynes Local Development Scheme

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the implication for the Milton Keynes growth area of the overlapping timetables for the (a) Western Expansion Area Development Framework, (b) Local Plan and (c) Master Plan.

Yvette Cooper: The Milton Keynes Council's Local Development Scheme (LDS), which is a project plan for producing new planning documents, provides information on the emerging Western Expansion Area Development Framework, Local Plan and Master Plan. It sets out how they will be prepared in the context of the new planning system and their relative status, relationship and timing. The LDS has been assessed by the First Secretary of State who decided to allow it to proceed and is publicly available.

Housing (Chorley)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will use English Partnership land for low cost and social housing in Chorley.

Yvette Cooper: English Partnerships (EP) currently owns 54.6 hectares of land in Chorley. One site (consisting of 4.4 hectares) has planning consent for residential development. This site will be jointly marketed with Chorley borough council (CBC) in about three months time. EP and CBC are also discussing the development brief for a parcel of land adjacent to this site that is owned by CBC.
	The amount of low cost and social housing on the site will be determined by the borough council as the planning authority.
	Development of the other approximately 50 hectares of land owned by English Partnerships in Chorley is either employment or agricultural land or has some form of constraint.

Home Buying and Selling

David Kidney: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to publish the Regulations to implement the provisions of the Housing Act 2004 relating to changes to the home buying and selling system; and if he will publish them first in draft.

Yvette Cooper: An announcement will be made shortly. Regulations will be published in draft in each case.

Housing Tenure

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many households comprised (a) social tenants, (b) private rented tenants, (c) owner occupiers owned outright and (d) owner occupiers, with a mortgage in England in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: Estimates of the number of households within each housing tenure in England in 1997 and in 2004 are tabled as follows:
	
		Number of households by housing tenure, England, 1997 and 2004
		
			  1997 2004 
			 Tenure Thousand Percentage Thousand Percentage 
		
		
			 Social tenants 4,194 21 3,784 18 
			 Private rented tenants 2,053 10 2,226 11 
			 Owner occupiers/owned  outright 5,236 26 6,239 30 
			 Owner occupiers/with  mortgage 8,351 42 8,337 40 
			 Total 19,834 100 20,586 100 
		
	
	Source:
	Labour Force Survey

Key Worker Living Initiative

Mark Hoban: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how long homes built under the Key Worker Living Initiative have to remain empty before alternative uses can be found.

Yvette Cooper: Each scheme is dealt with on an individual basis taking into account the marketing activities of the Registered Social landlord and local market demand and supply. There is flexibility which allows for changes to tenure and widening of the eligibility criteria where local evidence demonstrates that this is needed and where no added grant is required. Scheme review will be triggered only where units have been empty for at least three months.

Key Worker Living Initiative

Mark Hoban: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what mechanisms are in place to prevent an oversupply of properties available to key workers.

Yvette Cooper: The Housing Corporation is monitoring supply of property for key workers in all of its regions to ensure that what is available is sold or let and that future supply is not in competition with existing proposals and does not exceed demand.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the special discounts that individual local authorities in England have chosen to adopt under Clause 76 of the Local Government Act 2003.

Phil Woolas: A table setting out data provided by local billing authorities on the CTB1 Supplementary Form 2005–06 on discounts provided from April 2004 to March 2005 under section 13A of Local Government Finance Act 1992, inserted by section 76 of the Local Government Act 2003, has been placed in the Library of the House. We will collect data relating to April 2005 to March 2006 from the CTB1 Supplementary Form 2006–07 which will be sent out this autumn.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how a decision by a billing authority to adopt a special discount under Clause 76 of the Local Government Act 2003 affects (a) the revenues of precepting authorities other than the billing authority and (b) Government grant to the billing authority and other precepting authorities.

Phil Woolas: The revenues of precepting authorities are unaffected where a billing authority grants a special discount under section 13A of Local Government Finance Act 1992, inserted by section 76 of the Local Government Act 2003. The shortfall that would otherwise arise is adjusted by a transfer from the general fund of the billing authority to its collection fund and the balances in the collection fund are then shared with precepting authorities accordingly.
	No adjustment to Government grant is made in respect of discounts provided by billing authorities under section 13A of Local Government Finance Act 1992, inserted by section 76 of the Local Government Act 2003.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the decision to adopt a special discount under Clause 76 of the Local Government Act 2003 is the decision solely of the billing authority.

Phil Woolas: The power to provide special discounts under section 13A of Local Government Finance Act 1992, inserted by section 76 of the Local Government Act 2003 rests with the billing authority alone.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of local government total assumed spending in England was made up of specific grants in each year since 1996–97.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  (A) Total of Formula Spending Shares(37) and specific grants (£ billion) (B) Specific grants (£ billion) (B) as a proportion of (A) 
		
		
			 1997–98 49.6 5.1 10 
			 1998–99 48.4 5.7 12 
			 1999–2000 51.5 6.4 13 
			 2000–01 55.0 8.3 15 
			 2001–02 59.1 10.3 17 
			 2002–03 62.5 12.7 20 
			 2003–04 72.0 13.3 18 
			 2004–05 budget 77.0 16.4 21 
			 2005–06 budget 81.5 17.6 22 
		
	
	(37)Formerly Standard Spending Assessments up to 2002–03.

Daventry District Council

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment was made of the transitional funding arrangements accompanying the abolition of local authority social housing grant in assessing the inclusionof Daventry district council in the Council Tax Limitation (England) (Maximum Amounts) Order 2005.

Phil Woolas: I assume the question is referring to transitional arrangements for Negative Housing Subsidy Authorities.
	The points made by the Council in their written representations and at their meeting with me on 25 May were carefully considered. As part of those considerations the Government examined the transitional measures scheme and concluded that the Council's points did not justify setting an excessive budget requirement. I should highlight that the proposed order does not affect the authority's entitlement to benefit from the transitional measures.

Local Government Pensions

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he plans to publish a regulatory impact assessment in relation to revoking the Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2004.

Phil Woolas: A Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2004 was published on 13 July and copies were placed in the Libraries of the House.

Local Strategy Partnerships

Vera Baird: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what arrangements are in place for the exchange of best practice among local strategy partnerships.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister works with Local Strategy Partnerships (LSPs) to help them improve their performance and encourages them to learn from what works. We have developed a range of resources to enable them to do so. These include:
	establishing www.renewal.net, a web-based source of evaluated evidence about what works for LSPs, presented in a practical and user-friendly format. Renewal.net also has a series of discussion fora which encourage LSPs to exchange best practice;
	developing regional LSP networks, supported by Government Offices for the regions, which enable LSPs to learn from each other;
	providing technical advice from our pool of Neighbourhood Renewal Advisers, ensuring that LSPs have access to specialist knowledge about established and emerging best practice;
	organising national and regional events for LSPs designed to highlight what works and enable LSPs to exchange best practice.

London Governance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the Government intends to publish their plans to reform (a) London governance and (b) the powers of the Mayor of London.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government gave a manifesto commitment to review the powers of the London Mayor and the Greater London Authority. We will make a further announcement in the autumn.

London Governance

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the timetable is for the handover of responsibilities of the Government Office for London to the mayor.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government is undertaking a review of the powers of the London mayor and the Greater London authority. Any decision about the transfer of further responsibilities to the mayor, including any implications for the Government Office, will be made once the review has been completed. We will make a further announcement about the review by the end of the year.

Mayoral Referendums

Anne Milton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) secondary legislation and (b) procedural advice the Government has published in relation to local authorities holding Mayoral referendums; and if he will deposit a copy of those documents in the Library.

Phil Woolas: The following secondary legislation relating to Mayoral referendums has been issued:
	Local Authorities (Referendums) (Petitions and Directions) (England) Regulations 2000;
	Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2001;
	Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) (Consequential Amendment) Order 2001;
	Local Authorities (Referendums) (Petitions and Directions) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2001;
	Local Authorities (Referendums) (Petitions and Directions) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2001;
	Local Authorities (Referendums) (Petitions and Directions) (England) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2001.
	Guidance material has also been published to assist local authorities holding Mayoral referendums.
	Copies of these documents have already been placed in the Library of the House.

Neighbourhood Improvement Districts

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Government have to legislate for neighbourhood improvement districts.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister currently has no plans to legislate for neighbourhood improvement districts.
	Citizen Engagement and Public Services: Why Neighbourhoods Matter" (January 2005), invited discussion about the idea. These discussions are ongoing.

Olympics 2012

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the implications are of the successful bid to hold the 2012 Olympic games in London for the (a) workload and (b) staffing levels of his Department.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will continue to support delivery of the Olympic games, as it has the Olympic bid. The Olympic park is in the Thames Gateway and I would expect both the Thames Gateway and Sustainable Buildings Directorate and the London Thames Gateway Urban Development Corporation (which we sponsor) to play a significant role in helping to deliver a successful games in 2012.

Overcrowded Accommodation

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment his Department has made of the effects of living in overcrowded accommodation.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published in May 2004 a review by De Montfort university of the evidence and literature relating to the impact of overcrowded housing on health and education. The report, the Impact of Overcrowding on Health and Education (ISBN 1 85112 711 0), was placed in the Library of the House.

Park Land

Lorely Burt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if the Government will make changes to planning law to protect existing park land from being sold by local authorities;
	(2)  how much park land was sold by local authoritiesfor development between June 2001 and May 2005.

Yvette Cooper: Park land is protected by the provisions of national planning policy guidance note 17 (PPG 17). This requires planning authorities to protect from development all forms of open space, including parks, unless they are demonstrated to be surplus to the requirements of the community. There are no current plans to change this guidance.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold central records of the amount of all park land disposed of by local authorities. We are however committed to developing a national database of green spaces in England, which will help us to identify the location, quantity and changes to green spaces.

Parliamentary Questions

Mary Creagh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will reply to question reference 3101 from the hon. Member for Wakefield.

Yvette Cooper: I have today replied to my hon. Friend's question.

Planning Guidance (Car Parking)

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will review planning guidance which states that only 0.9 car parking spaces per dwelling must be provided.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement made on 17 July 2003, Official Report, columns 53–57WS by my right hon. Friend the Member for Streatham (Keith Hill)
	This explains that local authorities parking standards should result in an average of 1.5 off-street parking spaces per dwelling over their plan area. The 1.5 is intended to be an average across the plan area. Planning policy does not expect all dwellings in new developments to have 1.5 car parking spaces.
	The Government accepts that parking needs vary, according to location and housing type. To help the development of appropriate standards, research has been commissioned to consider how varying levels of car parking can be achieved in ways consistent with the Government's policies on sustainable residential environments. This research will inform the preparation of the Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing", a draft of which will be the subject of consultation later this year.

Regional Assemblies

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what offices regional chambers have outside the United Kingdom; and what the annual cost was of each in the last year for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: Each of the regional assemblies makes a contribution with regional partners, including the regional development agency and regional local government association, towards an office outside the United Kingdom. Details of the cost incurred by each assembly is:
	
		
			 Assembly Location of office or representation Cost of maintenance (£) Explanation of cost Source of funding 
		
		
			 East Brussels 321,740 Contribution to maintenance of office Non-ODPM funding 
			 East Midlands Brussels 7,500 Contribution to maintenance of joint office ODPM funding 
			 North East Brussels 90,190 Contribution to maintenance of joint office Non-ODPM funding 
			 North West Brussels 19,810 Contribution to maintenance of joint office Non-ODPM funding 
			 South East Brussels 53,600 Contribution to maintenance of joint office Non-ODPM funding 
			 South West Brussels 11,000 Contribution to maintenance of joint office ODPM funding 
			 West Midlands Brussels 6,900 Contribution to maintenance of joint office ODPM funding 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Brussels 278,000 Contribution to maintenance of joint office Non-ODPM funding

Regional Assemblies

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the regional chambers send copies of their annual accounts to his Department.

Yvette Cooper: The regional assemblies are required to submit copies of their annual audited accounts to the relevant Government Office as soon as possible after the end of the accounting period.

Regional Assemblies

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library, a copy of the ministerial guidance on regional chambers referred to on page 10 of the Department's research report, evaluation of the role and impact of regional chambers: feasibility study.

Yvette Cooper: I have today arranged for copies of the guidance to be placed in the Library of the House.

Regional Housing/Planning Boards

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the implications for London of merging regional housing boards with regional planning boards.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister consulted on this recently and are now considering a number of points of detail, including the implications for all regions.

Regional Spatial Strategy (East of England)

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reasons examination in public of the Regional Spatial Strategy for the East of England has been postponed from September to November; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Given the need to allow all parties additional time to gain an appreciation of the submitted representations, together with EERA's need for additional time to prepare adequately for the Examination in Public (EiP), the Panel established to conduct the EiP into the Regional Spatial Strategy for the East of England has decided that the start date should be deferred until 1 November 2005.

Regional Spatial Strategy (East of England)

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how he intends to publicise the examination in public of the Regional Spatial Strategy for the East of England to ensure people in South Essex are made aware of it.

Yvette Cooper: The Examination in Public (EiP) has been publicised in the following ways:
	in publishing the draft RSS for consultation the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) issued a press release and wrote to around 4,000 consultees advising of the arrangements for the EiP;
	in responding to around 6,000 requests for the draft RSS, EERA advised of the arrangements for the EiP;
	EERA also publicised the arrangements for the EiP at 13 public meetings held as part of the consultation exercise on their draft RSS;
	in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Regional Planning) (England) Regulations 2004 the First Secretary of State has published a notice of intention to hold an Examination in Public on the Go-East website at
	www.goeast.gov.uk/goeast/planning/regional_planning/regional_spatial_strategy/rss_examination_in_public/
	the notice is also published on EERA's website at
	http://www.eera.gov.uk/category.asp?cat=469
	and the information is repeated on many local authority websites;
	The EiP Panel has written to all 21,530 respondents advising them of the arrangements for the EiP.

Local Councillors

Michael Meacher: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the political make-up of each local authority is; and how many of the representatives of each party are female for each authority.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not itself hold comprehensive information either on the political make-up of local authorities or the number of authority members who are female. However, information on the names and political allegiance of members of each authority can be found in the Municipal Year Book.

Sickness Absence

David Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many days the Department has lost due to sickness in the past five years for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. The number of days lost due to sickness are contained in the annual report Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service" published by the Cabinet Office. Table A of the report gives details of both the average working days absence per staff year and the number of staff years on which that calculation is based on. The most recent of which (for calendar year 2003) was announced by Ministerial Statement on 1 November and copies placed in the Libraries of the House. Reports for 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 are also available in the Library and on the Cabinet Office website at: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_information/conditions_of_ service/caje/publications/index. asp#sickness
	The Department is committed to managing sickness absence effectively and is putting in place the recommendations of recently published report Managing Sickness Absence in the Public Sector".

Standards Board

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister in how many complaints to the Standards Board disposed of (a) directly by the Standards Board, (b) after an adjudication panel and (c) after a local standards committee hearing the respondent to the complaint was (i) disqualified from office, (ii) suspended from office for (A) a period less than three months, (B) three to six months and (C) for over six months and (iii) subjected to a lesser penalty in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Information in respect of the number of cases where members were subject to penalties following determinations by the Adjudication Panel or local standards committees each year is as follows:
	
		
			   Suspended (months)  
			  Disqualified less than 3 3 to 6 over 6 Lesser penalty 
		
		
			 Determinations by the Adjudication Panel   
			 2002–03 27 1 0 0 1 
			 2003–04 97 17 4 2 2 
			 2004–05 25 1 12 6 0 
			   
			 Determinations by local standards committees   
			 2002–03 not applicable not applicable not applicable not applicable not applicable 
			 2003–04 not applicable 14 2 not applicable 18 
			 2004–05 not applicable 19 15 not applicable 26 
		
	
	Note:
	1.Regulations empowering standards committees to determine cases came into effect in 2003–04. Standards committees have no remit to disqualify members, and can only impose a suspension for a maximum of three months.
	2.The Standards Board for England itself has no remit to suspend or disqualify members.

Swindon Borough Council

Michael Wills: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been provided in grants from central Government to Swindon borough council in each year since 1997.

Phil Woolas: The amounts of central Government grant allocated to Swindon borough council since 1997 are shown in the following table. The figures are shown in £000.
	
		£000
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 1997–98 90,376 
			 1998–99 97,101 
			 1999–2000 103,743 
			 2000–01 116,696 
			 2001–02 123,792 
			 2002–03 129,179 
			 2003–04 150,195 
			 2004–05 148,256 
			 2005–06 165,028 
		
	
	The data are taken from the RS (outturn) forms for all years except 2004–05 and 2005–06 when the data are taken from the RA (budget) form. These forms are completed each year by individual local authorities.
	Grants in the table include special and specific grants inside Aggregate External Finance", Revenue support grant and Redistributed Non-domestic rates.
	Comparisons across years may not be valid due to changing local authority responsibilities.

Tees Valley

Vera Baird: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to increase the economic activity rate in the population of the Tees Valley.

Phil Woolas: The stimulation of economic activity and promotion of entrepreneurial activity are complex and long-term issues, which need to be tackled through the co-ordinated efforts of a range of public, private and community sector organisations.
	The Regional Development Agency for North East England, One NorthEast, is currently engaged in an extensive consultation process on the review of the Regional Economic Strategy. One of the aims of the strategy is to
	to create an enterprising, risk-taking culture across all sectors, underpinned by a fit for purpose support network",
	and One NorthEast and other regional partners can expect to receive the full support of Government in its efforts to achieve this.
	Tees Valley has a fully rolled out Jobcentre Plus service delivering job-seeking and benefit services under one roof, and from October 2005 will have a Pathways to Work programme to help people claiming incapacity benefit to move into work.

Tees Valley

Vera Baird: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many new business start-ups there were in Tees Valley in the first half of 2005; and what the start-up rate in England was.

Yvette Cooper: Figures for the number of new business start-ups in Tees Valley and in England are not yet available covering the first half of 2005.
	The latest available figures show that in 2003 there were 1,120 VAT registrations in Tees Valley. This represents a rate of 22 per 10,000 members of the population aged 16-plus and compares to a rate of 42 per 10,000 for England.

Tees Valley

Vera Baird: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to improve the productivity of working people in the Tees Valley.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not have lead responsibility for productivity, but does work closely with other Departments—through Government offices, regional development agencies and other regional partners—to ensure that the overall contribution to the issues from the public sector is maximised.
	Proposed work to improve productivity in Tees Valley is contained in section 8 of the 'Tees Valley City Region Development Programme', which was published with 'Moving Forward: The Northern Way Business Plan 2005–2008' in June 2005, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

Tees Valley

Vera Baird: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what his assessment is of the effect on Redcar of its designation as part of the Coastal Arc in Tees Valley;
	(2)  what resources have been invested in Redcar consequent on its designation as part of the Tees Valley Coastal Arc;
	(3)  what the core aim is of the designation of part of the Tees Valley as Coastal Arc;
	(4)  how many jobs are expected to be generated through the designation of Redcar as part of the Tees Valley Coastal Arc; and in what sectors of employment;
	(5)  if he will make a statement on the effect of the designation of Redcar as part of the Tees Valley Coastal Arc on planning.

Yvette Cooper: The Government welcome the leadership that the Tees Valley Partnership have shown in setting out an ambitious investment programme, including areas in my hon. and learned Friend's constituency through the Coastal Arc proposals. The Government, and the regional development agency ONE North East, will be studying these proposals carefully, with a view to supporting priority projects that deliver sustainable economic development.

HEALTH

Bereavement Counselling

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding is available from her Department to organisations which provide bereavement counselling.

Rosie Winterton: In the current year, 2005–06, the Secretary of State for Health, through the section 64 General Scheme of Grants (section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968) has awarded £414,750 to organisations which provide bereavement counselling. In addition, we are aware of a range of locally funded innovative projects in national health service trusts and voluntary organisations around the country which are aimed at developing services for the bereaved locally.

Breast Cancer

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to break down cultural and language barriers preventing women from accessing breast screening services.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 21 June 2005
	For cultural and/or religious reasons, some women are less likely to accept invitations for screening than the general population as a whole. Language and access to acceptable and meaningful information can also be a significant barrier and can effect the coverage levels.
	The national informed choice leaflet, Breast Screening: The Facts", which is sent out with every invitation for screening, has now been translated into 18 languages.
	In December 2003, NHS Cancer Screening Programmes published Inequalities of Access to Cancer Screening: A Literature Review". The recommendations in the review have been sent to all local screening programmes.
	A number of local actions have been put in place to combat inequalities in inner-city areas. For example, in Haringey, sessions on screening have been held in community centres, with advocates from the relevant communities attending to translate and encourage women to attend their screening appointment. Many primary care trusts are conducting similar initiatives across the country.
	In 2004, to raise awareness about the availability of breast cancer screening, the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes issued a regional communications pack to all local breast screening programmes to increase coverage rates, the packs include advice on raising the awareness of screening and posters.

Breast Cancer

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what additional measures are planned to ensure that adequate resources are in place to implement the proposed two-week wait for urgent and routine breast referrals;
	(2)  what additional measures are planned to support patients with information and counselling within the proposed two-week wait for urgent and routine breast referrals.

Rosie Winterton: The 2005 Labour party manifesto gave the commitment that all women with breast symptoms should be seen within two weeks of referral by their general practitioner by 2008. Details of this commitment and how it will be resourced and implemented are yet to be determined with stakeholders and finalised.

Breast Cancer

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to implement the recommendation of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence that women aged 40 to 49 years with a family history of breast cancer should be entitled to annual screening.

Rosie Winterton: Clinical guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) are reflected in the standards published by the Department which provides a framework for continuous improvement in the overall quality of care people receive. Clinical guidelines are covered by the developmental standards, standards which the national health service is expected to achieve over time. The Healthcare Commission has a responsibility for assessing progress towards achieving these standards.
	Clinicians are expected to take full account of NICE's guidelines because they are based on the best available evidence and have been put together after wide consultation, drawing on the views of patients and carers as well as the experts in the field.

Breastfeeding

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department has given in each of the last five years to voluntary organisations to promote breastfeeding; if she will list those organisations; and for what specific purposes the funding was provided.

Caroline Flint: The Government are committed to increasing support for breastfeeding and have provided funding to four voluntary organisations over the past five years whose activities support the Department's policy priorities relating to breastfeeding.
	The table lists the funds provided to the voluntary organisations from 2000–05.
	
		£
		
			  National Childbirth Trust Breastfeeding Network Association of Breastfeeding Mothers La Leche League 
		
		
			 2000–01 20,000 10,000 5,000 5,000 
			 2001–02 30,000 30,000 5,800 10,000 
			 2002–03 32,800 8,000 5,000 7,000 
			 2003–04 16,348 14,893 6,300 10,000 
			 2004–05 — 22,249 — 10,350 
			 Total 99,148 85,142 22,100 42,350 
		
	
	In addition, the Department will also provide £450,000 for the National Breastfeeding Helpline over the next three years.

Breastfeeding

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has (a) commissioned and (b) undertaken into the health impacts of (i) breastfeeding and (ii) bottle feeding.

Caroline Flint: The Government are committed to increasing support for breastfeeding. There is a wealth of documented evidence internationally on the positive health impacts of breastfeeding and the benefits over feeding infant formula milk. We have responded to this evidence by raising awareness of the health benefits of breastfeeding through a national breastfeeding awareness week and focusing on increasing support for breastfeeding, particularly among women from disadvantaged groups. We have not commissioned specific research into the health impacts of breastfeeding or bottle feeding.

Breastfeeding

Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much central funding the Department of Health is providing to promote breastfeeding in 2005–06.

Caroline Flint: The Government are committed to increasing support for breastfeeding and have identified £2 million for activities related to healthy start and breastfeeding, including, national breastfeeding awareness week and a new national breastfeeding helpline. The five yearly national infant feeding survey to be conducted later this year will be funded separately.

Cancer Treatment

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has made to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence regarding its appraisal of cancer treatment-induced anaemia.

Jane Kennedy: None. The Department, as a registered stakeholder in the development of this appraisal, has been invited to respond to a consultation document published by National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on 1 July.

Cancer Treatment

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the availability of the cancer drug anastrozole on the NHS in England.

Rosie Winterton: Anastrozole is licensed in England for the adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor positive early invasive breast cancer and can be prescribed on the NHS for patients who fit the licensed indication.
	New hormonal therapies for the treatment of early breast cancer, including anastrozole, are being appraised by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). Guidance is expected in November 2006
	The Department has made it clear that funding for newly licensed treatments should not be withheld because guidance from NICE is unavailable.
	In these circumstances, we expect primary care trusts to take full account of available evidence when reaching funding decisions. This is confirmed in Health Service Circular 1999/176, which asks NHS bodies to continue with local arrangements for the managed introduction of new technologies where guidance from NICE is not available at the time the treatment or technology first became available.

Cancer Treatment

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will meet the Pan Birmingham Cancer Network to discuss their policy on the use of cancer treatments which have not been approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

Rosie Winterton: It is for individual cancer networks and primary care trusts to make decisions on the drugs they wish to make available to patients, taking into account the needs of the local population and, where appropriate, national guidance from National Institute and Health and Clinical Excellence.

Contraception (Under-16s)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many girls under 16 have been prescribed (a) contraceptive pills, (b) contraceptive implants and (c) contraceptive long-term injections in each of the last eight years;
	(2)  what the age is of the youngest girl to have received contraceptive prescriptions in the last five years.

Caroline Flint: Data from the prescription cost Analysis for England 1 is only available since 2001 and is shown in table 1. Data may not be complete as under 16s may also have been supplied with contraception under a separate exemption category—exemption for contraception supplied free of charge—and data by age is not available for this category. It should also be noted that contraceptive pills may be prescribed for purposes other than contraception, for example, heavy periods or acne.
	1 Prescription Pricing Authority.
	
		Table 1: Total contraceptive items dispensed by type
		
			  2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Tablet-based items prescribed 33,000 33,000 34,000 33,000 
			 Injection-based items prescribed 680 560 630 490 
			 Implant-based items prescribed 21 140 76 110 
			 Total 34,000 34,000 34,000 34,000 
		
	
	The estimated number of young women aged under 16 whose primary method of contraception was the pill, injection or implant obtained from community contraception clinics in the period 1996–97 to 2003–04 is shown in table 2.
	
		Table 2: First contacts with women aged under 16 at national health service family planning clinics by primary method of contraception, England, 1996–97 to 2003–04(38)
		
			  Pill Injection Implant 
		
		
			 1996–97 23,400 1,000 100 
			 1997–98 22,800 1,200 0 
			 1998–99 21,400 1,200 0 
			 1999–2000 23,000 1,500 0 
			 2000–01 23,800 2,000 100 
			 2001–02 24,200 2,300 100 
			 2002–03 24,500 2,500 200 
			 2003–04 25.000 2.700 300 
		
	
	(38)Source:
	Department of Health Statistics Division; return KT31.
	Notes:
	1.This data has been calculated from the under 16" exemption category on prescription forms. The data are based on a one in 20 sample of all prescriptions that are exempt from charges; prescriptions are free for the under 16s. Individuals may have more than one prescription dispensed during a 12 month period.
	2.Numbers rounded to the nearest hundred; zero indicates less than 50 cases.
	Information on the youngest girl to have received contraceptive prescriptions in the last five years is not available.

Dentistry

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists in Hertfordshire have personal dental service contracts; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The numbers of dental practices which have an open personal dental service (PDS) contract as at 31 May 2005 in Hertfordshire are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Primary care trust Total number of dental practice addresses Number of dental practice addresses in PDS 
		
		
			 Hertsmere 25 1 
			 Welwyn Hatfield 181 — 
			 North Hertfordshire and Stevenage 39 — 
			 South East Hertfordshire 27 — 
			 Royston, Buntingford and Bishop's  Stortford 15 1 
			 Watford and Three Rivers 37 — 
			 Dacorum 30 — 
			 St. Albans and Harpenden 36 1 
		
	
	Note:
	The total number of dental surgery addresses include all addresses with either open general or personal dental service contract at 31 March 2005.

Dentistry

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the public funds made available by (a) grants and (b) loans to NHS dental clinics in south Devon in each of the last five years; and whether conditions regarding continuing to practice within the NHS were attached to them.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 28 June 2005
	In 2001, The Department made £35 million available via the dental care development fund to expand local national health service dental capacity. The Department does not hold details of whether dental clinics in south Devon received funds from the dental care development fund. Health authorities imposed conditions on the grant: that the additional capacity was maintained, usually for three years; and that the practices in receipt of funds contributed around 50 per cent. of the total value of the grant.
	The Department made £50 million available to strategic health authorities to buy back local dental capacity from dentists in 2004–05. Of this, £1.56 million was made available to the South West Peninsula Strategic Health Authority, who allocated £242,000 to the primary care trusts covering south Devon: Torbay (£149,000); and south Hams and west Devon (£93,000). The amounts of money allocated to individual dental clinics is not held by the Department. The grant was intended to support NHS practice, but no specific conditions regarding continuing to practice in the NHS were attached to the moneys.

Dentistry

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dental practices were operating in South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, on 1 May; and how many people were unable to register with an NHS dentist in South Woodham Ferrers on that date.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 6 July 2005
	The number of dental surgery addresses within the Maldon and South Chelmsford Primary Care Trust (PCT) area, which provides dental services to the residents of South Woodham Ferrers, and the number of people and the percentage of people who are registered with an national health service dentist, based on the 2003 estimated population figures, are shown in the table.
	
		General dental services (GDS) and personal dental services (PDS)—number of dental surgery addresses and people registered with a NHS dentist in the specified PCTs at the specified dates
		
			 Maldon and South Chelmsford Number/percentage 
		
		
			 Total number of dental surgery addresses as at 30 April 2005 12 
			 Total number of people registered with an NHS dentist as at 31 March 2005 44,222 
			   
			 Percentage of people registered with an NHS dentist(39) as at 31 March 2005 51 
		
	
	(39)Based on 2003 estimated population figures.
	Notes:
	1.The number of registrations are based on a snapshot of the Dental Practice Board's registration database taken at the end of March each year and subsequent retrospective notifications of changes to registrations have not been included.
	2.An active registration is a patient registered with a dentist at the end of March each year. Some PDS schemes do not have any registrations, for example, dental access centres and will not therefore be included in these figures.
	3.A dentist with a GDS or PDS contract may provide as little or as much NHS treatment as he or she chooses or has agreed with the PCT. The Dental Practice Board has no information concerning the amount of time dedicated to NHS work by individual dentists.
	4.The patient registrations have been allocated to areas according to the postcode of the dentist's surgery.
	5.The areas have been defined using practice postcodes within the current boundaries.
	There were three dental practices, with eight general dental practitioners (GDPs), operating in South Woodham Ferrers on 1 May 2005. At that point, the three practices had 10,860 NHS patients registered with them.
	Information on the number of people unable to register with an NHS dentists in South Woodham Ferrers is not held centrally.
	Maldon and South Chelmsford PCT has invested £19,970 revenue to improve access, in addition to the 54,590 it received in capital grants from the Department.
	This additional money, which equates to an additional 0.5 general domestic practitioner, has already delivered 1,200 new patient registrations across the PCTs area.
	The PCT has also recruited a dentist from Poland, through the Department's international recruitment programme, and expect this to deliver a further 2,000 new patient registrations.

Dentistry

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the availability of NHS dental care in Chorley.

Rosie Winterton: Chorley and South Ribble primary care trust (PCT) received £212,000 in 2004–05. This was divided as follows; £135,423 capital, £57,778 revenue and £19,291 for the salaried dental service (community clinics).
	The total additional registrations agreed for the investment of the revenue funds was 9,500. In the 10 months since the allocation of this funding, 4,349 additional registrations have been delivered.
	As at 31 May 2005, there are 24 dental practices within the Chorley and South Ribble PCT area. Nine practices have converted to personal dental service (PDS) contracts, meaning 38 per cent. of practices have been secured to provide national health service dentistry. This equates to 38,000 NHS patients registered with the personal dental service practices. Dental Practice Board figures show a total of 102,661 registrations across the PCT area.
	These practices—the Jones, Buxton and Eccleston dental practices—received a total of £362,000 in growth money to enable them to increase the number of sessions that they perform. This equates to 26 sessions as approved by the PDS team. The practices concerned are all gradually increasing their list sizes.
	Chorley and South Ribble PCT anticipates that over the course of the next five years, 5,000 extra patients will be registered with PDS practices alone. The PCT is working with dental practices to achieve this in a staged manner.
	The PCT is also exploring alternatives to increase capacity. This includes international recruitment opportunities, identifying capacity in current premises and including extra dental provision in the PCT's new capital developments. In addition, one of the largest dental practices in Chorley is currently negotiating with the PCT to move to PDS.

Dentistry

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the average income of NHS dentists in Hampshire in each year since1997.

Rosie Winterton: Primary care provided by independent general dental practitioners (GDPs) forms the major element of national health service dental services. Most GDPs operate within the national terms of the general dental service (GDS), although some have opted to provide similar patient services under local contracts agreed with their primary care trust (PCT) as part of the recently introduced personal dental service (PDS).
	The table shows the estimated average income of NHS dentists in Hampshire for each year since 1997, calculated on a headcount basis. Whole time equivalent information is not available. A number of dentists moved from GDS to PDS, mainly in 2004–05. These dentists are known to be more committed to the NHS; hence, the effect of their leaving the GDS pool is to reduce the average GDS payments for those who remained at the end of 2004–05.
	It is important to note that a dentist with an open GDS or PDS contract may provide as little or as much NHS treatment as he or she chooses and that the Dental Practice Board has no information concerning the amount of time dedicated to NHS work by individual dentists.
	
		Average gross fees per GDS dentist(40) in Hampshire, 1996–97 to 2004–05 -- £
		
			  Average gross GDS fees(41) Average gross PDS payments(42)(5508050043)(44) 
		
		
			 1996–97 62,966 — 
			 1997–98 61,109 — 
			 1998–99 61,186 — 
			 1999–2000 60,665 — 
			 2000–01 60,041 — 
			 2001–02 61,893 — 
			 2002–03 61,378 — 
			 2003–04 61,445 — 
			 2004–05 56,2246 114,650 
		
	
	(40)Averages are calculated on a headcount basis.
	(41)Figures based on dentists with an open GDS contract at the end of the financial year.
	(42)Figures based on 114 dentists with a live PDS contract at 31 March 2005.
	(43)No PDS payments are available prior to 2004–05.
	(44)Average gross PDS fees are based on the full-year value of contractual commitments made by PCTs.
	(45)Break in series due to movement of 114 dentists from GDS to PDS.
	Notes:
	1.Prison contracts have not been included in this analysis.
	2.In view of the boundary changes from health authorities to PCTs in 2002, the areas have been defined using practice postcodes.
	3.Average income is shown gross of any income contributed by dental charges payable by patients.

Dentistry

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental surgeries (a) carrying out only NHS work and (b) carrying out both NHS and private work there are in St. Albans; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: As at 31 May 2005, there were 36 national health service dental surgery addresses within St. Albans and Harpenden primary care trust (PCT) 1 .
	A dentist with a general dental services or personal dental services contract may provide as little NHS treatment as he or she chooses or has agreed with the PCT. The Dental Practice Board has no information concerning the amount of time dedicated to NHS work by individual dentists. Statistical data about dentists' private practice is not collected centrally.
	Source:
	1 Dental Practice Board.

Digital Hearing Aids

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average period of time is that (a) new patients and (b) patients with existing analogue hearing aids living in (i) the Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Primary Care Trust area and (ii) the Medway Primary Care Trust area have to wait before they are fitted with a digital hearing aid after their initial referral for an audiology assessment by their GP.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is not collected centrally.

IVF

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to limit the number of embryos created through IVF to reduce the amount of embryo wastage; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: During an in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment cycle more than one embryo needs to be created if the patient is to have a realistic chance of having a child at the end of the treatment. This is because not all the embryos developed will be of sufficient quality to give the patient a chance of becoming pregnant. Additionally, where good quality embryos are available, only two will be transferred to the patient to limit the risk of a multiple pregnancy. Spare embryos are not automatically allowed to perish as the patient has the option of either storing them for future treatment or donating them for use in the treatment of others or research.
	The Government have no plans to adopt a policy that would limit the number of embryos that can be created during treatment.

Emergency Planning

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans are in place to stockpile medical consumables for use in the event of a civil or terrorist emergency; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Department and national health service is prepared to deal with a variety of incidents. Specifically, developed plans and preparations are in place to handle chemical, biological or radiological (CBRN) incidents, however caused.
	The Department has procured and stockpiled medical consumables, including vaccines, antibiotics, antidotes and specialist equipment as part of the response to emergency incidents. Stocks are held at a number of centres throughout England, and there are tried and tested procedures for the rapid deployment of these stocks in emergency situations.

Erythropoietin

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS has spent on erythropoietin over the last three years.

Jane Kennedy: The data is not available in the form requested. Data on prescriptions dispensed in primary care is available. The table shows how much was spent on erythropoietin when it was dispensed in the community over the last three years.
	
		Net ingredient cost
		
			  Total (£000) 
		
		
			 2002 36,430.74 
			 2003 38,594.86 
			 2004 39,268.79 
		
	
	Source:
	Prescription Pricing Authority
	Data on prescriptions dispensed in secondary care is not yet publicly available. Contractual obligations prevent the data being released.

Terminally Ill People

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times her Department has been consulted (a) formally and (b) informally by (i) hon. Members and (ii) Members of the House of Lords about end of life decision making since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not held centrally.

Food Irradiation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list each EU country where food irradiation is permitted; what products can be irradiated in each case; what assessment she has made of the irradiation of products from non-EU countries imported into the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Food irradiation falls into the Food Standards Agency's (FSA) area of responsibility. I am advised by the FSA that all European Union countries permit the irradiation of food, subject to their irradiation facilities obtaining approval from their national competent authority. Although irradiated food is permitted in all EU countries, it does not follow that there are approved food irradiation facilities in each member state. An up-to-date list of approved food irradiation facilities in EU member states is available at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/food/biosafety/irradiation/approved_facilities_en.pdf.
	Dried aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasonings are currently the only foods that can be irradiated in, and traded freely between, all EU countries. A number of EU countries also permit other categories of food to be irradiated. However, up-to-date information on all the permitted foods in the different member states is not held centrally. In practice, not all permitted foods are in fact irradiated as this depends on the existence of an approved facility for the irradiation of each foodstuff. The European Commission provides annual reports on all food irradiated in practice each year at EU facilities. The most recent information currently available is for the year 2002 at http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/com/rpt/2004/com2004_0069 en01.pdf.
	Irradiated foods imported into the EU from non-EU countries must have been irradiated at facilities approved by the European Union. There are currently five approved facilities outside the EU, three in South Africa, one in Turkey and one in Switzerland. Decisions on the approval of food irradiation facilities in non-EU countries are based on the results of inspections performed by the Food and Veterinary Office of the European Commission. FVO inspection reports are published at http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/inspections/fi/reports/index_en.html.
	All food imported from non-EU countries is subject to food safety controls carried out on the basis of risk assessment by local food authorities at the point of entry into the United Kingdom. As regards irradiated food, food products that do not comply with the Food (Control of Irradiation) Regulations 1990 (as amended) can be refused entry or destroyed.

GPs

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of general practitioners are refusing to make advance appointments in (a) each London primary care trust and (b) London.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	However, the Department collects information on the percentage of patients who cannot book an appointment more than two days in advance. The information for each of the primary care trusts (PCTs) and strategic health authorities (SHAs) in London is shown in the table.
	
		Percentage of patients who cannot book more than two days in advance
		
			 PCT code SHA code Organisation name Percentage 
		
		
			 Q04 Q04 North West London SHA 0 
			 Q05 Q05 North Central London SHA 1.2 
			 Q06 Q06 North East London SHA 3.2 
			 Q07 Q07 South East London SHA 3.4 
			 Q08 Q08 South West London SHA 0 
			 5AT Q04 Hillingdon PCT 0 
			 5H1 Q04 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 0 
			 5HX Q04 Ealing PCT 0 
			 5HY Q04 Hounslow PCT 0 
			 
			 5K5 Q04 Brent PCT 0 
			 5K6 Q04 Harrow PCT 0 
			 5LA Q04 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 0 
			 5LC Q04 Westminster PCT 0 
			 5A9 Q05 Barnet PCT 4.7 
			 5C1 Q05 Enfield PCT 0 
			 5C9 Q05 Haringey PCT 0 
			 5K7 Q05 Camden PCT 0 
			 5K8 Q05 Islington PCT 0 
			 5A4 Q06 Havering PCT 0 
			 5C2 Q06 Barking and Dagenham PCT 0 
			 5C3 Q06 City and Hackney PCT 7.1 
			 5C4 Q06 Tower Hamlets PCT 3.9 
			 5C5 Q06 Newham PCT 0.7 
			 5NA Q06 Redbridge PCT 0 
			 5NC Q06 Waltham Forest 9.8 
			 5A7 Q07 Bromley PCT 0 
			 5A8 Q07 Greenwich PCT 2.3 
			 5TAK Q07 Bexley PCT 0 
			 5LD Q07 Lambeth PCT 7 
			 5LE Q07 Southwark PCT 10 
			 5LF Q07 Lewisham PCT 1.2 
			 5A5 Q08 Kingston PCT 0 
			 5K9 Q08 Croydon PCT 0 
			 5LG Q08 Wandsworth PCT 0 
			 5M6 Q08 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 0 
			 5M7 Q08 Sutton and Merton PCT 0 
		
	
	Source:
	June primary care access survey.

Haemophilia

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether haemophilia patients with inhibitors and patients with factor VII (7) deficiency are eligible for treatment with recombinant products; and whether (a) primary care trusts and (b) haemophilia centre directors have been informed accordingly.

Caroline Flint: All haemophilia patients are now eligible for treatment with recombinant products. This includes patients with inhibitors and patients with factor VII deficiency. The chairman of the United Kingdom Haemophilia Centre Doctors' Organisation wrote to all haemophilia centre directors in England on 10 February 2004 to inform that they should start to make arrangements to treat remaining haemophilia A and B patients with recombinant products from 1 April 2005.
	Information has been collected on patients with inhibitors or congenital factor VII deficiency who are eligible for recombinant products, and allocations have been made so that these patients are included in this final year of the roll out of recombinant. Due to the difficulty in predicting usage for inhibitor patients, further data will be collected to allow a six month review.
	Primary care trusts receiving funding were informed about their allocation through the limits report sent to them on Tuesday 28 June.

Health Funding

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the financial surplus or deficit recorded by each (a) NHS trust and (b) primary care trust in Essex was for 2004–05.

Rosie Winterton: The latest year for which audited data on the financial position of national health service organisations is available is 2003–04. The Department does not currently publish unaudited information.
	Audited information in respect of the 2004–05 financial position of all strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and NHS trusts will be published in their individual annual accounts, and will be available centrally in autumn 2005.

Health Funding

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much financial support was received by each (a) NHS trust and (b) primary care trust in Essex from the Essex NHS Bank in 2004–05; and how much is owed by each to the Essex NHS Bank.

Rosie Winterton: The NHS Bank provides special assistance to the most financially challenged strategic health authorities (SHAs). Essex SHA has not received any special assistance from the NHS Bank.

Health Funding

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding per capita was given to each primary care trust in Essex in 2004–05.

Rosie Winterton: Essex primary care trust's (PCTs) allocation per head of population (per capita) for 2004–05 is shown in the table.
	
		£000
		
			  2004–05 allocation per head 
		
		
			 Basildon 1,002 
			 Billericay, Brentwood and Wickford 875 
			 Castle Point and Rochford 866 
			 Chelmsford 852 
			 Colchester 830 
			 Epping Forest 959 
			 Harlow 1,042 
			 Maldon and South Chelmsford 773 
			 Southend on Sea 1,034 
			 Tendring 1,068 
			 Thurrock 873 
			 Uttlesford 787 
			 Witham, Braintree and Halstead Care Trust 798 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health Resource Allocation and Monitoring Analysis

Health Funding

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the health expenditure per head of population in Milton Keynes has been in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: Expenditure based on Milton Keynes is not available. The expenditure per weighted head on health in Buckinghamshire Health Authority (HA) area and Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority (SHA) area is shown in the table.
	
		£ per head
		
			  Buckinghamshire HA Thames Valley SHA area 
		
		
			 1997–98 599.87 n/a 
			 1998–99 637.24 n/a 
			 1999–2000 699.93 n/a 
			 2000–01 755.09 n/a 
			 2001–02 976.85 n/a 
			 2002–03 n/a 904.32 
			 2003–04 n/a 1,140.04 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Expenditure has been taken from audited health authority summarisation forms and primary care trust summarisation schedules, which are prepared on a resource basis and therefore differ from cash allocations in the year. The figures have not been adjusted for inflation.
	2.Figures for 1997–98 to 2001–02 have been prepared using gross expenditure figures. Figures for 2002–03 and 2003–04 have been adjusted to eliminate expenditure, which would be double counted where an authority acts as a lead in commissioning healthcare or other services. In 2001–02, there was a high degree of inter authority transactions, which have increased the apparent expenditure per head.
	3.In many HAs there are factors, which distort the expenditure. These include:
	the HA acting in a lead capacity to commission healthcare or fund training on behalf of other health bodies; and
	asset revaluations in national health service trusts being funded through HAs or PCTs.
	4.The majority of general dental services expenditure is separately accounted for by the Dental Practice Board. An element of pharmaceutical services expenditure is accounted for by the Prescription Pricing Authority. Total expenditure on these items by the Dental Practice Board and the Prescription Pricing Authority cannot be allocated to individual health bodies, therefore the total expenditure in the answer by health authority does not capture all NHS expenditure within the area.
	Sources:
	Buckinghamshire HA audited accounts 1997–98 and 1998–99.
	Buckinghamshire HA audited summarisation forms 1999–2000 to 2001–02.
	Thames Valley SHA audited summarisation forms 2002–03 and 2003–04
	Primary care trust (PCT) audited summarisation schedules 2000–01 to 2003–04 for bodies within the above health authority areas.
	Weighted population figures.

Hepatitis B

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the incidence of hepatitis B in England was in the last period for which figures are available; and what measures are being taken to control its spread;
	(2)  if she will commission a national strategy for hepatitis B.

Caroline Flint: Information on the incidence of hepatitis B in England is available from the Health Protection Agency's website at: www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/hepatitis_b/data.htm.
	There are a range of measures being taken to control the spread of hepatitis B in England, these include:
	screening of blood donations and viral inactivation of blood products;
	immunisation of groups at increased risk of infection;
	antenatal screening;
	harm reduction services for injecting drug users, including needle and syringe exchanges;
	services to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections, including hepatitis B;
	infection control procedures in health care settings; and
	regulation of tattooing and cosmetic piercing businesses.
	The joint committee on vaccination and immunisation is reviewing the hepatitis B immunisation programme to assess whether it needs to be altered.
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is appraising the clinical and cost effectiveness of adefovir dipivoxil and pegylated interferon for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection. Guidance is expected in February 2006.
	We have no current plans to commission a national strategy for hepatitis B but policy is kept under ongoing review.

Hepatitis B

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients, other than those who have received transplants, are being treated for chronic hepatitis B in England.

Caroline Flint: This information is not held centrally.

Heroin Addicts (Plymouth)

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time is for heroin addicts in Plymouth to access residential treatment.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 11 July 2005
	Information on waiting times for drug rehabilitation places is published by the National Treatment Agency on a quarterly basis. In March 2005, the average waiting time for residential rehabilitation in Plymouth was five days.

Hospital-acquired Infections

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to answer of 27 June 2005, Official Report, column 1363W, on Hospital Acquired Infections, during which month this summer she plans to publish the resultsfrom the mandatory surveillance of Clostridium difficile.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 4 July 2005
	We expect to publish this data in August.

Infant Formula

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will press for changes in the Revision of Commission Directive 91/321/EEC on infant formulae and follow-on formulae in order to bring this Directive into line with the International Code and subsequent relevant World Health Assembly Resolutions.

Caroline Flint: In the Choosing Health" White Paper, published last November, the Government promised to press for amendments to the European Commission Directive on infant formula and follow-on formula. The Government supports amendments being proposed in the recast directive, which aim to protect the promotion of breastfeeding throughout the European Union.

Medical Staff Numbers

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) nurses of all grades, (b) junior physiotherapists, (c) senior physiotherapists, (d) diagnostic radiographers, (e) therapeutic radiographers, (f) senior managers, (g) managers and (h) allied health professionals were employed in NHS hospitals in (i) West Sussex, (ii) Surrey, (iii) Durham, (iv) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (v)each strategic health authority in each of the last eight years.

Liam Byrne: The information requested as at 30 September each year since 1997 has been placed in the Library.

Mental Health

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the implications of Delivering Race Equality for the training of (a) psychiatrists and (b) other mental health professionals.

Rosie Winterton: Delivering Race Equality in Mental Health Care" (DRE) was published in January 2005. It is clear on the need for all those involved in planning or providing mental health services for black and minority ethnic communities to receive training in cultural sensitivity. This could include religious and linguistic needs, care and recovery planning, needs assessment and community engagement.
	To support this training, the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) and the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health have developed 10 essential shared capabilities that everyone working in mental health care should achieve during pre-qualification training. The Department and NIMHE will issue further guidance, for example, on education and training for the new community development workers described in DRE shortly.

Mental Health

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital admissions on mental health grounds in the past three years have resulted from the use of (a) pharmaceutical drugs, (b) heroin, (c) cocaine, (d) cannabis, (e) alcohol, (f) nicotine, (g) khat and (h) magic mushrooms.

Rosie Winterton: Number of admissions under mental illness specialties with a primary diagnosis (ICD-10) of a mental or behavioural disorder due to psychoactive substance abuse or poisoning caused by drugs, for the years 2001–02 to 2003–04 are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Type of drug 2001–02 2002–03(46) 2003–04(46) 
		
		
			 Pharmaceutical drugs 330 390 380 
			 Heroin 3,480 3,210 3,070 
			 Cocaine 160 190 220 
			 Cannabis 580 580 710 
			 Alcohol 11,470 11,700 11,280 
			 Nicotine 10 10 10 
			 Stimulants 310 350 310 
			 Hallucinogens 80 70 80 
			 All 16,420 16,490 16,060 
		
	
	(46)Figures for years 2002–03 and 2003–04 have not yet been adjusted for shortfalls in data and/or clinical error. Therefore, the data is ungrossed.
	Source:
	Hospital episode statistics, National Health Service Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Myasthenia Gravis

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate she has made of the number of individuals in England suffering from myasthenia gravis; what guidance her Department has issued to NHS trusts in respect of support for those diagnosed with the disease; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: We do not make estimates of the number of individuals suffering from specific conditions.
	The recently published national service framework for long-term conditions provides guidance on delivering health and social care support for those people with long-term conditions, including myasthenia gravis.

Myeloma

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to improve the care offered to those with myeloma.

Rosie Winterton: The Government are committed to providing high-quality cancer services across the country, irrespective of cancer type. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has been commissioned to continue the improving outcomes series of guidance to ensure there is a comprehensive package of cancer services guidance covering all cancers.
	The NICE improving outcomes in haematological cancers guidance was published in October 2003 and addresses multiple myeloma.
	The Department is also considering referring the drug Velcade for the treatment of multiple myeloma to NICE for appraisal.

NHS Research Ethics Committees

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many members sit on NHS research ethics committees; and whether she plans to introduce payment for their services.

Jane Kennedy: An estimated 1,900 members currently sit on NHS Research Ethics Committees (RECs) in England. At present members are paid expenses for attending meetings. The Government have recently published the report of the ad hoc advisory group on the operation of NHS RECs, which includes the following as one of its recommendations
	The time commitment required of members and support staff for training should be more formally recognised, as should the time taken in committee hearings and preparation. This implies paying REC members appropriately, either directly or through compensating their employers."
	The National Patient Safety Agency will prepare an implementation plan for the report's recommendations which will be subject to public consultation.

NHS Staff (Assaults)

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date the national reporting system for physical assaults on NHS staff was established; and on what date she first expects data collected under the scheme to be published.

Jane Kennedy: In April 2003, the NHS Security Management Service (NHS SMS) was created and assumed policy and operational responsibility for the management of security in the national health service, including work to tackle violence against NHS staff.
	On 20 November 2003, the NHS SMS introduced a comprehensive range of measures to tackle incidences of violence against NHS staff, both proactively and reactively, including the establishment of a national reporting system for physical assaults. Work is currently taking place to audit and validate data relating to physical assaults so that for the first-time ever the NHS will have accurate information on the true nature, scale and extent of this matter; it is expected that this will be completed later this year and results will be released thereafter.

NHS Staff (Assaults)

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff employed by West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust were assaulted while on duty in the year (a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002, (d) 2003 and (e) 2004; and how many prosecutions resulted from these assaults.

Rosie Winterton: The table shows the number of reported violent incidents against national health service staff in the West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust for the years 2000–01, 2001–02 and 2002–03. The information is from the violence, accidents and harassments in the NHS survey. As the survey has been discontinued, figures for 2004 are not available. The Department does not collect information about the number of prosecutions resulting from violent assaults.
	
		NHS hospital and community health services: recorded incidents of violent attacks and assaults on staff within West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust in each specified period
		
			  Number of recorded incidents 
		
		
			 2000–01 8 
			 2001–02 110 
			 2002–03 42 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Covers 1 April to 31 March for specified years.
	2.The data collection was discontinued in 2003.
	Source:
	Survey of violence, accidents and harassments in the NHS.

Patients' Forums

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients' forums there were (a) in total and (b) in each strategic health authority area in the most recent year for which figures are available; and how many members community health councils had in each (i) in total and (ii) by strategic health authority area in the last year of their existence.

Rosie Winterton: There are 572 patient and public involvement forums in England, one for each primary care trust and national health service trust. On the 4 July 2005, there were 4,838 members. Figures about the number of forum members by strategic health authority areas are not available centrally. Information about the number of community health council members is not available.

PCTs (Birmingham)

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her plans are for the number of primary care trusts in Birmingham.

Rosie Winterton: Decisions on the configuration of local services are a matter for the local health community.
	Birmingham and the Black Country Strategic Health Authority reports that no decisions have been made about the future configuration of primary care trusts (PCTs) in the Birmingham area.
	The Department is intending to publish guidance on the future role of PCT shortly.

Pensioners (Free Eye Tests)

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost has been to public funds of free eye tests for pensioners in each year since 1997–98.

Rosie Winterton: Estimates of the total costs of national health service sight tests for patients aged 60 and over in England and Wales for the years from 1997 are shown in the table.
	
		£ million
		
			 Year(47) England costs Wales costs 
		
		
			 1999–2000 49.6 3.7 
			 2000–01 58.0 3.7 
			 2001–02 64.5 4.1 
			 2002–03 69.1 4.6 
			 2003–04 74.4 4.8 
		
	
	(47)Eligibility for free eye tests for all those aged over 60 re-commenced in 1999–2000.

Retinopathy

Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care trusts have protocols in place for recalling people with diabetes to receive retinal screening.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not held centrally. Information from strategic health authorities (SHAs) currently indicates that the national health service is on course to meet the target for March 2006, that is, that 80 per cent. of people with diabetes are offered screening for the early detection of diabetic retinopathy as part of a systematic screening programme; call and recall arrangements are an important part of systematic screening. The Department is working with all SHAs to ensure robust performance management of progress.

Retinopathy

Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many follow-up appointments at specialist eye clinics for those people needing treatment for sight-related retinopathy were cancelled in the last period for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not held centrally.

Retinopathy

Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many follow-up appointments were (a) cancelled and (b) rescheduled for people with diabetes needing laser eye treatment in the last period for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not held centrally.

West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the target waiting times are for (a) MRI scans and (b) ultrasound scans at West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust.

Rosie Winterton: By 2008, no patient will have to wait more than 18 weeks from a general practitioner referral to start of treatment. This will include diagnostic procedures. It is the responsibility of local trusts to deliver acceptable access standards for all out-patients having taken into account clinical priority.

West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the target waiting times are for orthopaedic surgery at West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust.

Rosie Winterton: From 1 April 2004, the maximum waiting time for in-patient treatment was reduced from 12 months to nine months and from end 2005 a maximum waiting time of six months will be introduced. By 2008, patients will be admitted for treatment within a maximum of 18 weeks from referral by their general practitioner, and those with urgent conditions will be treated sooner.

West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds in hospitals covered by West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust are available for patients with severe neck or spinal trauma.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not collected centrally.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Airwave

Doug Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding he allocated to provide the Airwave National Fallback Service.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office has approved expenditure of up to £345 million over the life of the contract for the Airwave National Fallback Service.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend the disability equality duty to the application by police or local authorities for antisocial behaviour orders.

Hazel Blears: The disability equality duty, introduced by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, will apply to all functions of public authorities with the exception of a few narrow exemptions. All agencies eligible to apply for antisocial behaviour orders, including the police andlocal authorities, will be covered by the disability equality duty.
	Courts will not be subject to the duty when considering whether to issue orders as this would undermine judicial independence.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether antisocial behaviour orders have been (a) applied for and (b) granted in respect of persons living in social housing properties who are known to have a mental health problem.

Hazel Blears: Information is not collected centrally about the characteristics or circumstances of persons issued with an antisocial behaviour order.

Asylum/Immigration

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he made of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 in the framing of his Department's Asylum Policy Instruction on the internal relocation of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo.

Tony McNulty: Security Council Resolution 1244 adopted by the Security Council at its 4011th meeting on 10 June 1999 ordered the withdrawal of all Yugoslav military forces and the establishment of an international peacekeeping force and made a commitment to ensure the safe and unimpeded return of all refugees and displaced persons to their homes in Kosovo. Resolution 1244 does not affect the view based on the available objective country information and case law that there is in general freedom of movement for all ethnic Albanians in Kosovo and that it would not be unduly harsh for ethnic Albanians to relocate internally within Kosovo, to an area where they will not face persecution.

Asylum/Immigration

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers accepted into the UK since 1997 have been convicted of criminal offences.

Tony McNulty: This information is not recorded centrally.

Asylum/Immigration

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the proportion of people in the UK being assessed for asylum who will (a) fail in their application and (b) leave the UK after failing.

Tony McNulty: Asylum numbers are continuing to fall dramatically year on year, and provisional figures for the whole of 2004 show UK asylum applications including dependants fell by 33 percent., twice the rate of the rest of Europe.
	The number of cases awaiting an initial decision has continued to fall, to 8,700 at the end of March—the lowest level for more than a decade. It is not possible to know exactly what proportion of these applications will fail, or will result in applicants subsequently leaving the UK after failing.
	On the basis of the latest statistics on initial decision outcomes and appeal outcomes, it can be assumed that around 70–80 percent. of the 33,930 asylum applications received in 2004 will ultimately prove to be unfounded.
	The level of removals in 2004 (12,430 principal applicants) is equivalent to around half this level of unfounded applications made in 2004. The equivalent proportion for 1996 is 20 percent. In addition some failed asylum seekers may leave the UK without informing the Immigration Service.
	Our target is to increase the monthly number of removals so that they exceed the monthly number of new asylum applicants expected to be unfounded, by the end of 2005. Increasing removals is a key part of our fiveyear immigration and asylum plan, in particular working with source countries to secure more returns.
	Information on the numbers of asylum applications and removals of failed asylum seekers is published in the quarterly asylum statistics on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum/Immigration

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the use of Arab translators upon the accuracy of the recording of the testimony of Darfuri asylum seekers.

Tony McNulty: Qualified interpreters in the Darfuri primary languages of Fur, Zaghawa and Massaleit are not available, but every effort is made to provide an Arabic-speaking interpreter who understands and can be understood by the person being interviewed. At the beginning of every asylum interview, the interviewer will ensure that the applicant understands the interpreter and vice versa, and will also ask the applicant at the end if he has understood the questions. We do not accept that the use of Arabic-speaking interpreters has disadvantaged Sudanese asylum seekers from the Darfur region.

Asylum/Immigration

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) asylum seekers and (b) immigration detainees in respect of whom all coroners' inquests and legal proceedings are completed have (i) died and (ii) been recorded as harming themselves in the last five years for which figures are available; how long each person concerned had been held in detention prior to death or harm; what the verdict was of the coroners' or other inquiry held into such incidents; and in which establishment each person was held.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 14 July 2005
	There have been four immigration detainee deaths in the last five years where the coroner's verdict is known:
	
		
			 Date of death Length of detention Verdict Establishment 
		
		
			 31 January 2003 3 months Suicide Haslar 
			 7 May 2003 1 day Killed Harmondsworth 
			 1 May 2004 2 months Natural causes Haslar 
			 12 July 2004 4 days Natural causes Port of Dover 
		
	
	There is no record of any having self-harmed in the period prior to their deaths.

Asylum/Immigration

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to put the criteria for the detention of asylum seekers on a statutory basis.

Tony McNulty: No. Immigration detention powers are contained in schedules two and three to the Immigration Act 1971 and Section 62 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. These provide for detention to be authorised in the following circumstances: for persons on arrival subject to further examination before deciding whether to grant or refuse leave to enter; for illegal entrants and others liable to removal; and for persons subject to deportation. The Government's position on the normal use of these statutory powers is already in the public domain. Any changes to that position would also be made public.

Asylum/Immigration

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy that a decision to detain an asylum seeker is automatically and regularly reviewed as to its (a) legality, (b) necessity and (c) appropriateness by a court or other independent body.

Tony McNulty: We do not accept that it would be appropriate or necessary to introduce automatic judicial or other independent oversight of individual decisions to detain. Immigration detainees may challenge the lawfulness of their detention before the courts through the processes of judicial review or habeas corpus. We are satisfied that the procedures for authorising detention under Immigration Act powers comply with Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Asylum/Immigration

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) illegal immigrants and (b) failed asylum seekers entered the UK between 1997 and 2004.

Tony McNulty: The information is as follows.
	(a) No government has ever been able to produce an accurate figure for the number of people who enter the country illegally. By its very nature it is impossible to quantify accurately, and that remains the case.
	Although it is impossible to determine accurately how many people are in the UK illegally the Home Office published a report, on 30 June 2005, which included an estimate of the size of the illegal migrant population in the UK in 2001. It should be noted that the report included an estimate, not an accurate or definitive figure.
	As mentioned in the report the only method to estimate the size of the unauthorised migrant population in the UK that currently can sensibly be applied is the residual method. As the method relies on data from the census of the population undertaken every 10 years, it is not possible to produce an estimate for other years.
	Failed asylum seekers who do not comply with instructions to leave the UK, who are not appealing or who have exhausted their rights of appeal (including those who abscond during the process) are included in the definition of 'unauthorised' or 'illegally resident' migrant population used in the report.
	A copy of the RDS On-line report 29/05—Sizing the unauthorised (illegal) migrant population in the United Kingdom in 2001" can be found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/notes/june_summaries.html.
	(b) Information on when asylum seekers enter the country is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Asylum/Immigration

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when all of those who applied for the family concession from October 2003 will have their cases concluded; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: It is not possible to provide a precise time scale of when all those currently being considered under the exercise will have had their cases concluded.
	The time it takes to reach a decision depends both on individual circumstances and on the number of cases in the consideration process. Sometimes people do not complete the Family ILR Exercise Questionnaire properly, or fail to provide the documentation requested. The checks we conduct on potentially eligible applicants can also take some time to complete, depending on individual circumstances. We also encounter a number of complex cases that can take some time to resolve.
	The main factor, though, which makes providing a meaningful completion date for the exercise difficult, is the substantial number of cases we still have to consider. In addition, we continue to receive a number of applications for the scheme, each of which requires careful assessment. We are hoping to have completed consideration of the majority of cases by the end of April 2006.
	Key statistics relating to the Family ILR Exercise were published as part of the quarterly asylum statistics on 17 May. These show the current status of the exercise up to and including 31 March 2005 and are available to the public on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics (RDS) website. The full web address is:
	www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html
	These statistics will be updated in August to include the second quarter of 2005.

Asylum/Immigration

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many cases in (a) Greater London, (b) the London borough of Enfield and (c) Edmonton are still outstanding under the family concession exercise of October 2003; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many residents of (a) the London borough of Enfield and (b) Edmonton who have not yet had their cases under the family concession exercise determined, submitted their application in each quarter since the last quarter of 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: We are unable to provide accurate figures of the numbers of outstanding applicants by location. General key statistics relating to the progress of the exercise were published as part of the quarterly asylum statistics on 17 May. These show the current status of the exercise up to and including 31 March 2005 and are available to the public on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics (RDS) website. The full web address is:
	www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html
	These statistics will be updated in August to include the second quarter of 2005.

Asylum/Immigration

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of how many illegal immigrants live in the UK; and what research he has commissioned into the routes of illegal migration into the UK.

Tony McNulty: No government has ever been able to produce an accurate figure for the number of people who are in the country illegally. By its very nature it is impossible to quantify accurately, and that remains the case.
	Although it is impossible to determine accurately how many people are in the UK illegally the Home Office published a report, on 30 June 2005, which included an estimate of the size of the illegal migrant population in the UK in 2001. It should be noted that the report included an estimate, not an accurate or definitive figure.
	As mentioned in the report the only method to estimate the size of the unauthorised migrant population in the UK that currently can sensibly be applied is the residual method. As the method relies on data from the census of the population undertaken every 10 years, it is not possible to produce an estimate for a more recent year.
	A copy of the Research Development and Statistics Directorates (RDS) On-line report 29/05—Sizing the unauthorised (illegal) migrant population in the United Kingdom in 2001" can be found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/notes/june_summaries.html.
	The Home Office has commissioned research that provides some information on the routes of illegal migration into the UK. The findings are contained in an RDS On-line report 20/05 A survey of the illegally resident population in detention in the UK" (found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/onlinepubs1.html).

Asylum/Immigration

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate the Government have made of how many immigrants are in the UK having overstayed their visas.

Tony McNulty: Information on the total number of immigrants who have overstayed their visa, is not available. This could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records. In addition some applicants may leave the United Kingdom without informing the Immigration Service.
	E-borders and ID cards will enable us to monitor this more precisely in the future.
	No government has ever been able to produce an accurate figure for the number of people who are in the country illegally. By its very nature it is impossible to quantify accurately, and that remains the case.
	Although it is impossible to determine accurately how many people are in the UK illegally the Home Office published a report, on 30 June 2005, which included an estimate of the size of the illegal migrant population in the UK in 2001. It should be noted that the report included an estimate, not an accurate or definitive figure.
	Overstayers are included in the definition of 'unauthorised' or 'illegally Resident' migrant population used in the report.
	A copy of the RDS On-line report 29/05—Sizing the unauthorised (illegal) migrant population in the United Kingdom in 2001" can be found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/notes/june_summaries.html.

Asylum/Immigration

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the routes by which people living in the UK illegally first entered the country.

Tony McNulty: Persons living in the UK illegally may have entered the UK unlawfully, either clandestinely or by deploying deception, or may have entered the UK legally and remained beyond any permitted permission to remain. The methods and routes used to enter the country are varied and change in response to a number of factors, including the impact of new security measures.
	The Immigration and Nationality Directorate routinely monitors the trends and changes to methods of illegal entry into the UK. These assessments are used to inform policy and operational initiatives.
	Many of those entering the UK use the services of criminal groups to provide documentation, transport and to provide assistance once here. Under Reflex, the Government's multi-agency taskforce to combat organised immigration crime, intelligence assessments of the routes and methods used to enter the United Kingdom are regularly updated and are used to direct targeted operations against the criminal gangs involved.
	The main route for clandestine entry to the UK has been through the South East ports while those entering by air often use false documents and take circuitous routings. A number of successful countermeasures have been introduced to combat these routes such as the introduction of juxtaposed controls, enhanced freight searching, deployment of overseas officers, the development of risk assessment units at key visa posts overseas and regular alerts to front-line staff on developments in document abuse.

Asylum/Immigration

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the change in the number of unauthorised residents in the UK since 2001;
	(2)  what proportion of the unauthorised migrant population estimated in his Department's research study were estimated to have arrived in the UK between 1991 and 2001.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 7 July 2005
	No government has ever been able to produce an accurate figure for the number of people who are in the country illegally. By its very nature it is impossible to quantify accurately, and that remains the case.
	Although it is impossible to determine accurately how many people are in the UK illegally the Home Office published a report, 30 June 2005, which included an estimate of the size of the illegal migrant population in the UK in 2001. It should be noted that the report included an estimate, not an accurate or definitive figure.
	As mentioned in the report the only method to estimate the size of the unauthorised migrant population in the UK that currently can sensibly be applied is the residual method. As the method relies on data from the census of the population undertaken every 10 years, it is not possible to produce an estimate for a more recent year. It is also not possible to estimate the proportion of the unauthorised migrant population who arrived in the UK between 1991 and 2001.
	A copy of the RDS On-line report 29/05—Sizing the unauthorised (illegal) migrant population in the United Kingdom in 2001" can be found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/notes/june_summaries.html.

Asylum/Immigration

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visits were made to employers by Immigration Service officers in 2004–05.

Charles Clarke: In 2004–05, 1,858 enforcement visits to business premises were reported by UK Immigration Service local enforcement offices. Other visits to employers to explain the law on illegal working would also have been undertaken, but figures for these are not held centrally.

Work Permit System (Ethnic Minorities)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the likely effect of his proposals for changes to the work permit system on ethnic minority businesses in the catering sector in relation to their ability to recruit skilled staff from the Indian sub-continent; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Government's plans for changes to the work permits system and for current sector based schemes are outlined in Controlling our borders: making migration work for Britain" the five-year plan for asylum and immigration. The Government are committed to ensuring that UK employers have access to the skills and experience they need in order to maximise the economic benefits to the UK from migration. Skilled migrant workers should be enabled to fill vacancies which cannot be filled from within the UK or EU.
	The written ministerial statement on 23 June announced that, following a review of the scheme and in the light of additional labour available from the new EU countries, the current sectors based scheme for the hospitality sector would be ended. The findings of that review have been placed on work permits (UK)'s website. If additional needs are identified in future, small tightly managed quota-based schemes will be established for specific shortage areas for fixed periods.

Biometric Passport Databases

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, following the implementation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation biometric standards, immigration staff at ports and airports will be able to access other countries' biometric passport databases in order to verify the validity of documents presented by passengers.

Charles Clarke: In order to realize the benefits of biometrics, Immigration Officers need to be able to access the biometric information stored on the passport's chip and verify that the person presenting the passport is the rightful holder. Immigration Officers will not have access to databases of other countries but it is the intention of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill that they will have access to the data contained within the passport chip in biometric passports of overseas nationals. The bill also seeks to provide Immigration Officers with the power to ask the holder of the passport to provide biometric information, such as fingerprints, for comparison with data held in the passport chip to ascertain whether the person presenting the passport is the rightful holder of the document.

Bombings

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will list the (a) dates and (b) locations of crimes using bombs or other explosive devices that have taken place in England and Wales resulting in death or personal injury in each year since 1976; and if he will list the number of (i) casualties and (ii) convictions that have been secured;
	(2)  if he will list the names of organisations and individuals who claimed responsibility for crimes using bombs or other explosive devices that have taken place in England and Wales resulting in death or personal injury for each year since 1976.

Charles Clarke: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Correspondence

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 151W, on correspondence, when he will provide a substantive reply to the letter of 28 February from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 4 July 2005
	Iwrote to the hon. Member on 30 June.

Correspondence

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam concerning his constituent Mr. Sebastian John D'Souza, dated 18 May, ref D'Souza/180505/Stonecot/by.

Tony McNulty: I wrote to the hon. Member on 15 July.

Crime

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the trends in criminal activity in the East sector of Plymouth are for the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 11 July 2005
	Statistics are not collected centrally for the East Sector of Plymouth. The latest published information is for the Plymouth Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership area and covers 2003–04. The statistics cover six key offence groups and give comparisons with 2002–03 and rates per 1,000 population.
	The data is available on the Home Office website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs04/cdrptabs.xls

Crime

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) final warnings and (b) reprimands have been issued under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 in each year for each (i) classification of crime and (ii) age cohort.

Hazel Blears: Information from the Home Office Court Proceedings database on the number of persons in each age cohort under the age of 18 who have been issued with a reprimand or final warning since the introduction of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, by offence type, England and Wales, 1999–2003 is contained in the table.
	Statistics for 2004 will be available in the autumn.
	
		Number of juveniles given a reprimand or final warning by offence type and age cohort, England and Wales 1999–2003(48)(5508050049)
		
			  1999 2000 
			 Offence type 10 to 11 years 12 to 14 years 15 to 17 years 10 to 11 years 12 to 14 years 15 to 17 years 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 365 3,223 4,876 345 3,140 4,767 
			 Sexual offences 13 256 320 30 229 225 
			 Burglary 803 2,874 2,439 630 2,643 2,105 
			 Robbery 58 245 200 69 277 198 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 3,037 17,798 18,756 2,936 16,982 16,997 
			 Fraud and forgery 39 414 1,216 26 362 1,066 
			 Criminal damage 286 930 726 294 945 834 
			 Drug offences 34 1,002 8,535 31 947 6,941 
			 Other indictable offences 29 409 933 31 394 892 
			 Summary offences (excluding motoring) 2,142 12,033 19,987 2,153 12,570 18,482 
			 Total 6,806 39,184 57,988 6,545 38,489 52,507 
		
	
	
		
			  2001 2002 2003 
			  10 to 11 years 12 to 14 years 15 to 17 years 10 to 11 years 12 to 14 years 15 to 17 years 10 to 11 years 12 to 14 years 15 to 17 years 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 414 3,332 4,934 451 3,550 5,344 530 4,372 6,109 
			 Sexual offences 28 240 250 23 203 217 15 235 225 
			 Burglary 614 2,618 2,065 503 2,190 1,859 423 2,075 1,862 
			 Robbery 44 243 198 39 196 127 44 192 133 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 2,516 16,194 16,491 1,911 12,846 13,340 1,955 12,419 13,892 
			 Fraud and forgery 27 309 914 26 225 858 19 187 761 
			 Criminal damage 305 1,096 850 240 916 769 232 1,056 975 
			 Drug offences 32 1,278 7,171 41 1,331 8,145 37 1,293 8,241 
			 Other indictable offences 40 430 872 24 363 912 22 405 967 
			 Summary offences (excluding motoring) 2,381 13,211 18,945 1,890 11,147 16,902 1,932 12,017 19,308 
			 Total 6,401 38,951 52,690 5,148 32,967 48,473 5,209 34,251 52,473 
		
	
	(48)These data are on the principal basis
	(49)Juvenile cautions were replaced by reprimands and final warnings in June 2000

Crime

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on changes in the level of crime in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley in the last five years.

Hazel Blears: Information from police recorded data for the years 1999 to 2004 is contained in the tables.
	Chorley is a Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) area. The most recent available information relates to 2003–04. Data for the period up to 31 March 2005 will be included in the forthcoming publication Crime in England and Wales 2004–05" which will be available on the Home Office website and in the Library.
	In terms of violent crime, much of the rise in violence against the person which is shown in the tables can be accounted for by changes to the way the police define and record certain offences. Police recorded crime data are subject to changes in police recording practices, including those relating to national Counting Rules and recording standards. The Counting Rules changes in 1998 had a very significant impact on violent crime, across England and Wales the numbers of such crimes recorded by the police increased by 83 per cent. in the first year of using the new rules. The National Crime Recording Standard, introduced in April 2002, again resulted in increased recording of violent crimes, particularly for less serious violent offences. In addition, increased police activity can have an impact on how many offences are recorded, because, in such circumstances, police officers may encounter and record incidents that may not previously have been reported or recorded.
	In comparison, British Crime Survey data, widely regarded as the most authoritative view of violent crime, shows considerable reductions in violent crime across England and Wales since 1997.
	
		Table 1a: Recorded crime for six key offences in the Chorley Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership area, 1999–2000 to 2001–02(50)
		
			  1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 551 581 646 
			 Sexual offences 38 47 49 
			 Robbery 27 32 64 
			 Burglary in a dwelling 526 492 780 
			 Theft of a motor vehicle 464 414 413 
			 Theft from a motor vehicle 700 837 872 
			 Total(51) — — 7,579 
		
	
	(50)The data in this table is prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years.
	(51)Available only from 2001–02.
	
		Table 1b: Recorded crime for six key offences in the Chorley Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership area, 2002–03 to 2003–04(52)
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 761 1,553 
			 Sexual offences 62 60 
			 Robbery 42 48 
			 Burglary in a dwelling 579 479 
			 Theft of a motor vehicle 375 266 
			 Theft from a motor vehicle 759 603 
			 Total 6,942 7,873 
		
	
	(52)The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.
	
		Table 2a: Crime recorded by Lancashire Police, 1999–2000 to 2001–02(53)
		
			  1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 9,803 11,710 15,935 
			 Sexual offences 754 936 992 
			 Robbery 1,058 1,224 1,608 
			 Burglary(54) 21,360 21,673 23,920 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods(55) 44,459 46,060 52,016 
			 Fraud and forgery 4,024 5,935 6,338 
			 Criminal damage 22,776 25,445 31,925 
			 Drug and other offences 4,632 4,650 5,026 
			 Total 108,866 117,633 137,760 
		
	
	(53)The data in this table is prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years.
	(54)All burglary, including attempted burglary.
	(55)Including theft of and from a motor vehicle.
	
		Table 2b: Crime recorded by Lancashire Police, 2002–03 to 2003–04(56)
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 15,784 26,676 
			 Sexual offences 1,069 1,337 
			 Robbery 1,409 1,285 
			 Burglary(57) 20,487 19,571 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods(58) 49,223 50,660 
			 Fraud and forgery 5,839 7,157 
			 Criminal damage 30,733 39,447 
			 Drug and other offences 5,963 5,702 
			 Total 130,507 151,835 
		
	
	(56)The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.
	(57)All burglary, including attempted burglary.
	(58)Including theft of and from a motor vehicle.

Crime

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the annual number of recorded crimes per 1,000 population was for (a) Northamptonshire police force, (b) Northamptonshire's most similar family of forces and (c) an average for England and Wales in each of the last 10 years.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is given in the table.
	Since 1997, there have been two major changes to the way crime is recorded. The effect of the change in the counting rules in 1998 was to artificially increase total recorded crime nationally by 14 per cent. while it is estimated that the effect of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) in April 2002 caused a further increase of 10 per cent. in total recorded crime in its first year.
	
		Total recorded crime in Northamptonshire and it's most similar forces—rate per 1,000 population 1994 to 2003–04 -- Rate per 1,000 population
		
			 Police force area 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998–99(59) 
		
		
			 Cambridgeshire 90 98 100 85 94 
			 Cheshire 77 75 68 62 66 
			 Hampshire 82 78 78 71 73 
			 Hertfordshire 65 66 63 58 57 
			 Kent 101 100 95 79 83 
			 Northamptonshire 97 95 96 89 107 
			 Staffordshire 89 87 87 85 87 
			 Warwickshire 86 78 78 71 76 
			 England and Wales 102 99 97 88 98 
		
	
	
		
			  1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03(60) 2003–04 
		
		
			 Cambridgeshire 95 89 95 120 112 
			 Cheshire 66 64 72 86 94 
			 Hampshire 76 75 76 86 100 
			 Hertfordshire 60 62 64 83 92 
			 Kent 79 81 75 83 86 
			 Northamptonshire 99 91 97 117 123 
			 Staffordshire 93 99 111 104 104 
			 Warwickshire 76 73 83 87 89 
			 England and Wales 101 98 104 113 113 
		
	
	(59)Figures using the expanded offence coverage and revised counting rules which came into effect on 1 April 1998.
	(60)The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002. Figures before and after that data are not directly comparable.

Deepcut Barracks

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will inquire into the reasons for the time taken by Devon and Cornwall police to investigate the Surrey police's review of deaths at the Deepcut army barracks; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The terms of reference for this Inquiry require the Devon and Cornwall constabulary to examine a number of issues as they relate to the Surrey police investigation into four deaths at Deepcut Barracks.
	These matters are not straightforward and include, among other things, issues around the disposition of officers and others involved in the investigation. These matters are very challenging and deal with issues that have not previously been examined by a police inquiry. A substantial number of documents have had to be examined in close detail and cross referenced to other material and witnesses. The inquiry is essentially a review of four deaths over a seven year period in five distinct and different areas.

Departmental Contracts

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the normal payment terms are for his Department to settle the invoices of building contractors who have performed work for the Home Office.

Charles Clarke: The normal payment terms for the Home Office to settle the invoices of building contractors who have performed work for us is within 30 days of delivery and receipt of a valid invoice.

Departmental Purchasing

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the companies from which his Department has purchased goods and services of a total value above 1 million in each of the last three years; and how much was spent in respect of each company.

Charles Clarke: The Home Office is not able to answer this question without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Spending (Security)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Department has spent on ensuring that his residence has adequate security measures in each of the last three years.

Charles Clarke: The Home Office do not discuss security arrangements for individuals including costs, for protection reasons.

Disqualified Drivers

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers were disqualified from driving for a period of over two years in each of the last five years; how many subsequently applied to the sentencing court for part of the disqualification period to be lifted on grounds of hardship; and how many were successful.

Paul Goggins: Available information taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database on the number of disqualifications imposed on drivers for motoring offences for a period of two years and over from 1999 to 2003 (latest available), is given in the table.
	2004 data will be available early in 2006.
	Information is not held centrally on the number of appeals and outcome against disqualifications from driving.
	
		Driving disqualifications(61)imposed at all courts for a period of two years and over for motoring offences, England and Wales, 1999 to 2003 -- Number of offences
		
			  Disqualification period  
			  2 years and over Life Total 
		
		
			 1999 44,844 45 44,889 
			 2000 43,780 26 43,806 
			 2001 46,300 18 46,318 
			 2002 50,803 35 50,838 
			 2003 53,453 46 53,499 
		
	
	(61)Excludes persons disqualified by the courts under section 35 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (penalty points system).

Drug Rehabilitation

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average waiting time to have an appointment for drug rehabilitation treatment was in 200405 with the consultant psychiatrist employed by the Health Partnership Trust in St. Albans; and what proportion of his patients are the subject of drug rehabilitation requirements and a drug treatment testing order.

Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is not collected centrally.

EU Public Procurement Directive

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what responsibilities will fall to his Department as a result of EU Public Procurement Directive 2004/18/EC; and what actions his Department plans to take in response to the Directive.

Charles Clarke: The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) is currently running a consultation on the draft regulations implementing the new EU Directives on procurement in the public sector (Directive 2004/18/EC) which ends on 12 September. Following this consultation period the deadline for implementation into UK law is 31 January 2006. Once the UK regulations are published the Home Office will be responsible for adhering to the requirements of the new directive which consolidates the current supplies, services, and works directives. The OGC will be issuing guidance on implementation which will be promulgated to all procurement specialists in the Home Office.

Command Papers

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) Green and (b) White Papers his Department has produced since 1997, broken down by date.

Charles Clarke: A list of all Command Papers produced by Departments from 10 May 2001 to the end of June 2005, prepared by the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) has been placed in the Library. This list by Department details the Command Paper number, title and date of publication.
	It is not possible to separately identify the number of Green and White Papers. Information is not available prior to 10 May 2001, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	A list of Command Papers from 2001 onwards is also available on the OPSI website at www.opsi.gov.uk with links to the Command Papers where known. The list can be viewed alphabetically by Department as well as numerically.

Identity Cards

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he expects that the Government's proposal on Identity Cards will help individuals to verify that they are not dealing with bogus officials.

Charles Clarke: The statutory purposes of the Identity Cards Scheme are to facilitate the provision of a convenient method for individuals to prove registerable facts about themselves to others and the provision of a secure and reliable method for registerable facts about individuals to be verified wherever that is necessary in the public interest.
	Identity Cards will assist the public to verify the identity of individuals, as the public will be able to visually compare the photograph on the Identity Card with the individual that is before them. Members of the public will also be able to compare the name on the card with the name of the individual that they are expecting. However it is not proposed that Identity Cards will have the occupation of the individual either on the face of the card or contained within the register, neither would there be any legal obligation for an official to produce a card on request.

Identity Cards

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish his Department's technical evaluation of the London School of Economics work on Identity Cards.

Charles Clarke: A technical evaluation of the London School of Economics report will be published shortly.

Illegal Alcohol Sales

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were prosecuted for selling alcohol to under-age children in each year since 1997 in (a) England and (b) each region.

Andy Burnham: The available information from the Home Office Court Proceedings database, relating to those prosecuted against for selling alcohol to under-age children in England and each region, 1997 to 2003, is shown in table 1.
	Statistics for 2004 will be available in the autumn.
	The penalty notice for disorder scheme provides for persons who commit specified penalty offences to be issued with a fixed penalty notice instead of being prosecuted. The offence of selling alcohol to persons aged under 18 was added to the PND scheme on 1 November 2004 for use on bar or off-licence staff, licensees will be prosecuted to enable action to be taken to revoke their licences. Table 2 lists the number of penalty notices issued for this offence in 2004 and 2005 to the end of May. 
	
		Table 1: Defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences relating to the sale of alcohol to underage persons(62), England and each region, 1997 to 2003
		
			 Offence description Statute Region 1997 1998 1999 
		
		
			 Selling etc., intoxicating liquor to Licensing Act, 1964, section 169(1); North East 34 94 41 
			 persons under 18 for consumption Licensing (Occasional Permissions) North West 55 58 41 
			 on the premises Act 1983, schedule (sec. 3) para. 4(1) Yorkshire and Humberside 16 22 17 
			   East Midlands 19 15 14 
			   West Midlands 25 20 34 
			   Eastern 18 18 7 
			   London 12 12 16 
			   South East 9 18 10 
			   South West 2 40 5 
			   
			   England 190 297 185 
			   
			 Wholesaler selling intoxicating Licensing Act 1964, sec. 181A(1) as North East
			 liquor to a person under 18 added by Licensing Act 1988, sec. 17 North West
			   Yorkshire and Humberside
			   East Midlands 1   
			   West Midlands
			   Eastern
			   London  1 1 
			   South East
			   South West
			   
			   England 1 1 1 
		
	
	
		
			 Offence description Statute Region 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Selling etc., intoxicating liquor Licensing Act, 1964, section 169(1); North East 18 18 8 40 
			 to persons under 18 for Licensing (Occasional Permissions) North West 27 35 73 198 
			 consumption on the premises Act 1983, schedule (sec. 3) para. 4(1) Yorkshire and Humberside 22 29 14 8 
			   East Midlands 9 6 11 76 
			   West Midlands 21 11 12 61 
			   Eastern 6 5 4 11 
			   London 2 19 11 97 
			   South East 6 17 12 27 
			   South West 4 6 2 15 
			
			   England 115 146 147 533 
			
			 Wholesaler selling intoxicating Licensing Act 1964, sec. 181A(1) as North East 
			 liquor to a person under 18 added by Licensing Act 1988, sec. 17 North West 2   7 
			   Yorkshire and Humberside  2   
			   East Midlands  1  2 
			   West Midlands   1  
			   Eastern   1  
			   London 
			   South East3 
			   South West 
			
			   England 2 3 2 12 
		
	
	(62)These data are on the principal offence basis.
	
		Table 2: Number of penalty notices for disorder issued for the sale of alcohol to underage persons, England and each region, 2004 and January to May 2005(63)
		
			 Offence description Statute Region 2004(64) 2005(65) 
		
		
			 Selling etc., intoxicating liquor to persons Licensing Act, 1964, Section 169(1); North East 1 8 
			 under 18 for consumption on the premises Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act North West 32 45 
			  1983, schedule (sec. 3) para. 4(1) Yorkshire and Humberside 8 39 
			   East Midlands 12 24 
			   West Midlands 7 4 
			   Eastern 7 17 
			   London 21 17 
			   South East 2 13 
			   South West 22 37 
			   England 112 204 
		
	
	(63)Provisional data
	(64)Offence added to PND scheme 1 November 2004
	(65)Provisional data January-May 2005

Young Offenders

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people of school age who had been placed in custody have re-offended in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England in each year since 1997.

Fiona Mactaggart: Information in respect of Jarrow alone, South Tyneside alone and the North East alone is not collected centrally. In England and Wales as a whole, 70.4 per cent. of young people under 18 released from custody in 2001 were re-convicted within one year. The comparable figure for 2002 was 68.3 per cent.; and for 2003, 69.4 per cent. Figures for other years since 1997 are not available.

Young Offenders

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people of school age (a) found guilty of a crime and (b) placed in custody were found to suffer from some form of mental illness in each of the last five years.

Fiona Mactaggart: This information is not collected centrally.

Kidnaps

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were kidnapped in England and Wales in each of the last three years.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 27 June 2005
	There were 3,125 recorded offences of kidnapping in England and Wales in 200304. This corresponds with 3,184 offences in 200203 and 2,788 in 200102.

Homicide

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons convicted of (a) murder and (b) manslaughter in England and Wales were subsequently (i) charged with and (ii) convicted of murder or manslaughter following their release on licence in each year since 1975.

Hazel Blears: The available information is as follows:
	During the period 1975 to date, a total of 68 persons in England and Wales, released following a conviction for homicide, were known to have been convicted of a second offence of homicide.
	The figure excludes persons who have been convicted outside England and Wales (for whom there is incomplete information), and persons who have been killed by those not previously convicted of homicide by reason of their mental state.
	A breakdown for each year since 1975 by type of homicide is given in the following table.
	
		Suspects convicted of a second homicide following release from a previous conviction for homicide in England and Wales 1975 to 2004
		
			  Murder second conviction Manslaughter second conviction 
			  Homicide offence of previous conviction 
			  Murder Manslaughter Total Murder Manslaughter Total 
		
		
			 1975 0 1 1 0 1 1 
			 1976 1 1 2 1 0 1 
			 1977 0 2 2 0 1 1 
			 1978 1 1 2 0 0 0 
			 1979 0 1 1 1 0 1 
			 1980 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 1981 1 0 1 1 1 2 
			 1982 1 0 1 0 1 1 
			 1983 0 2 2 0 1 1 
			 1984 0 2 2 0 1 1 
			 1985 1 1 2 0 1 1 
			 1986 1 2 3 0 0 0 
			 1987 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 1988 2 1 3 0 0 0 
			 1989 1 3 4 0 0 0 
			 1990 1 0 1 1 1 2 
			 1991 0 0 0 0 2 2 
			 1992 2 0 2 0 2 2 
			 1993 0 2 2 0 0 0 
			 1994 0 0 0 0 2 2 
			 1995 0 5 5 0 1 1 
			 1996 0 1 1 0 0 0 
			 1997 0 1 1 0 0 0 
			 1998 1 0 1 1 0 1 
			 1999 2 1 3 0 1 1 
			 2000 0 2 2 0 0 0 
			 2001 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2002 0 1 1 0 0 0 
			 2003 0 1 1 0 0 0 
			 Total 15 31 46 5 17 22

National Offender Management Service

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the business case for the establishment of the National Offender Management Service.

Fiona Mactaggart: The strategic business case for the establishment of the National Offender Management Service is being finalised and will be published as soon as is reasonably practicable thereafter.

National Offender Management Service

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the pilot service level agreements between regional offender managers and the probation boards.

Fiona Mactaggart: In preparation for the move to commissioning of offender services, a programme of work is underway to develop a standard service level agreement. Service level agreements will then be drawn up between regional offender managers and all probation boards within their region for operation in 200607. As part of this work, shadow service level agreements have been drafted this year with the following probation boards:
	Bedfordshire;
	Cambridgeshire;
	Cheshire;
	Cumbria;
	Essex;
	Greater Manchester;
	Hertfordshire;
	Lancashire;
	Merseyside;
	Norfolk;
	Suffolk.
	Copies of these shadow service level agreements have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Parking Fines

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was raised by parking fines in (a) Humberside and (b) England in each of the last five years.

Charles Clarke: Information on the revenue raised from parking summary offences is not available.
	Available information, given in the tables show the number of fines at magistrates' court and the number of fixed penalty notices issued for all offences of obstruction, waiting and parking in the Humberside police force area and England, during the calendar years 1999 to 2003 (latest available).
	Not all fines and fixed penalties will have been paid.
	Information for 2004 will be available early in 2006.
	Under The Road Traffic Act 1991 decriminalised parking enforcement (DPE) powers allow local authorities to take over responsibility for enforcing parking contraventions from the police. Data on fixed penalty notices issued under DPE are not included within the tables. Humberside does not operate DPE.
	
		Table 1: Fixed penalty and court proceedings data for obstruction, waiting and parking offences(66) within Humberside police force area(67) 19992003 -- Number of offences
		
			  Fixed penalties Court proceedings(68) 
			  Endorsable Non-endorsable  
			  Number of tickets(69) Estimated revenue () Number of tickets(69) Estimated revenue ()(70) Number of fines Total amount of fine () Average fine () 
		
		
			 1999 2 80 23,900 478,200 303 9,200 30 
			 2000 4 173 26,600 576,200 125 3,600 29 
			 2001 3 180 25,700 771,000 83 3,400 40 
			 2002 2 120 26,500 795,100 160 6,200 39 
			 2003 1 60 25,500 765,100 214 8,400 39 
		
	
	(66)Offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s.22; Transport Act 2000 ss.173 (5); 173 (6); 173 (7); 174 (3); 175 (2); 175 (3); 175 (4); 190 Highway Act 1835 ss 72 and 78; RTA 1988 ss. 19 and 21; Highways Act 1980 s. 137 (1); Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 ss. 5 (1), 8, 3236 and 4553; Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) regulations 1986 Regs. 101 and 103; Transport Act 2000 Part III.
	(67)On-street parking in the force area is not decriminalised.
	(68)Includes cases where fixed penalty notices were originally issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court.
	(69)Only covers tickets paid where there is no further action.
	(70)Underestimates based on the lowest level of non-endorsable penalty charge: 20 to October 2000 and 30 from November 2000.
	
		Table 2: Fixed penalty and court proceedings data for obstruction, waiting and parking offences(71) England(72) 19992003 -- Number of offences
		
			  Fixed penalties Court proceedings(73) 
			  Endorsable Non-endorsable  
			  Number of tickets(74) Estimated revenue () Number of tickets(74) Estimated revenue ()(75) Number of fines Total amount of fine () Average fine () 
		
		
			 1999 196 7,800 1,656,000 33,124,000 14,400 877,300 61 
			 2000 158 6,800 1,450,000 31,411,000 12,500 889,600 71 
			 2001 148 8,900 1,195,000 35,836,000 12,000 829,300 69 
			 2002 111 6,700 1,031,000 30,920,000 11,300 807,600 71 
			 2003 144 8,600 915,500 27,465,000 11,900 845,600 71 
		
	
	(71)Offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s.22; Transport Act 2000 ss.173 (5); 173 (6); 173 (7); 174 (3); 175 (2); 175 (3); 175 (4); 190 Highway Act 1835 ss 72 and 78; RTA 1988 ss. 19 and 21; Highways Act 1980 s. 137 (1); Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 ss. 5 (1), 8, 3236 and 4553; Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) regulations 1986 Regs. 101 and 103; Transport Act 2000 Part III; Metropolitan Police Act 1839s. 54(1).
	(72)Does not include Decriminalised Parking Enforcements (DPE).
	(73)Includes cases where fixed penalty notices were originally issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court.
	(74)Only covers tickets paid where there is no further action.
	(75)Underestimates based on the lowest level of non-endorsable penalty charge: 20 to October 2000 and 30 from November 2000.

Parliamentary Questions

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the questions, references (a) 2586 and (b) 2589, tabled by the hon. member for Preseli Pembrokeshire on 3 June.

Hazel Blears: I replied to the hon. Member on 11 July 2005, Official Report, volume 436, column 750W

Passport Service

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimated total cost of HM Passport Service's Authentication by Interview scheme is; and what assessment he has made of the annual changes arising from its implementation (a) in cost terms and (b) in terms of the number of fraudulent applications prevented.

Charles Clarke: The estimated cost of the Passport Service's Authentication by Interview (ABI) scheme in its year of introduction is aggregated within the total estimated unit cost of 67.93 for 200607, published within the Corporate and Business Plan.
	The ABI initiative is intended both to deter and to detect fraudulent applications among first time applicants but its business case has been constructed on its potential deterrent effect, for which evidence exists. UKPS data sampling have identified the first time adult channel as accounting for 74 percent. of all fraudulent applications, although this group accounts for less than 10 percent. of all applications processed annually by the Agency. ABI closes the loophole that currently exists in the postal application system by bringing together the physical applicant, and current biographical information, to ensure they are one and the same. A fraudster will now be faced with having to act out their false identity, and risk a real possibility of detection. There have been a number of instances in the past where the requirement to attend for interview would have enabled UKPS to identify a fraudulent application and prevent the issue of a passport in a false identity.
	The savings the scheme is designed to deliver are in deterring fraudulent applications passport applications and thus contributing to the overall fight against identity fraud.

Police

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure the Metropolitan Police Service in each London borough has sufficient numbers of detectives.

Hazel Blears: The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has record police numbers. At the end of September 2004 the force had 30,111 police officers. At 31 March 2005, I am advised by the MPS, they had 6,432 detectives. The allocation of officers to London boroughs and other operational units in the MPS is an operational matter for the commissioner (Sir Ian Blair).

Police

Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full-time equivalent police officers have been employed in the Avon and Somerset police force in each year since 198990.

Hazel Blears: Information on the number of police service personnel for the Avon and Somerset constabulary since 1989 is set out in the following table. Police service strength for 31 March 2005 will be published at the end of July.
	
		Avon and Somerset constabulary: police strength 1989 to 2005
		
			 As at 31 March Number of police officers Number of police (support) staff Number of community support officers 
		
		
			 1989 3,014 765  
			 1990 3,094 835  
			 1991 3,092 902  
			 1992 3,081 899  
			 1993 3,068 1,171  
			 1994 3,033 1,195  
			 1995 3,000 1,204  
			 1996 2,981 1,213  
			 1997 2,989 1,439  
			 1998 2,976 1,393  
			 1999 2,999 1,424  
			 2000 2,934 1,436  
			 2001 2,960 1,452  
			 2002 3,096 1,611  
			 2003 3,149 1,768  
			 2004 3,401 1,987 45 
			 2004(76) 3,399 2,036 (77)149 
		
	
	(76)30 September.
	(77)Estimated strength for 31 March 2005.

Police

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many custody suites are operated by Lancashire police; how many cells there are in each; and where each suite is located.

Hazel Blears: This is an operational matter for the chief constable of Lancashire constabulary but I understand that there are eight custody suites in this police area and these are at the following locations and contain the following numbers of cells:
	
		
			  Number of cells 
		
		
			 Blackburn 44 
			 Blackpool 36 
			 Burnley 27 
			 Fleetwood 10 
			 Lancaster (78)11 
			 Leyland 10 
			 Preston 25 
			 Skelmersdale 13 
			 Total 176 
		
	
	(78)To be increased to 22 by July 2006
	This represents the total number in regular use and includes detention rooms. It excludes those held in reserve for constabulary contingency, overspill or special operational use.

Police

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police community support officers have been introduced in Newport, East; and what assessment he has made of the impact they have had on levels of crime and antisocial behaviour in Newport East.

Hazel Blears: Gwent constabulary had 77 community support officers (CSOs) on 31 March 2005. Information is not centrally collected about the number of CSOs in Basic Command Units. Arrangements are being made to collect such data.
	We have commissioned a national evaluation of community support officers (CSOs) which will be published later this year. An interim report, National Evaluation of Community Support Officers, published in December 2004 (available at www.policereform.gov.uk), indicated that CSOs are having a positive impact on some types of anti-social behaviour and lower level crime, for example vehicle related crime and personal robbery. The main aim of CSOs is to provide a visible and reassuring presence on the streets.

Police

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in Newport, East in 1997; and how many there were in the last period for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: Information on police officer strength at Basic Command Unit (BCU) level is collected annually and reflects the position at the end of March. This data has only been collected since March 2002. Information for 31 March 2005 will be published at the end of July. Information on police strength at constituency level is not collected. The deployment of police staff to BCUs is a matter for the chief constable (Mr. Mike Tonge).

Police

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) special constables and (b) police support and administrative staff there were in the Northamptonshire police force in each of the last 10 years.

Hazel Blears: The available information is given in the following table.
	
		Special constable and police service staff Northamptonshire
		
			 Strength at 30 September Special constables (headcount) Police service staff(79) (full-time equivalent) 
		
		
			 1995 298 464 
			 1996 301 560 
			 1997 314 564 
			 1998 262 608 
			 1999 210 601 
			 2000 195 648 
			 2001 184 745 
			 2002 175 797 
			 2003(80) 175 830 
			 2004(80) 192 938 
		
	
	(79)Not including community support officers and traffic wardens.
	(80)Excludes staff on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave, for comparison with earlier years.

Police

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is available to police officers when it is known before an arrest is made that an individual is mentally or physically disabled.

Hazel Blears: The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), in conjunction with National Police Training, produced guidance in 1996 on restraint techniques entitled Personal Safety Training. The guidance covers conflict management and highlights factors, including mental illness, which should be taken into account by officers when assessing the appropriate level of response in a given situation. The guidance is subject to ongoing review and update.
	Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) Code of Practice C, issued under the PACE Act 1984 sets out the special considerations which must be applied when dealing with mentally vulnerable and physically disabled persons in custody. Annex E of Code C provides a summary of provisions relating to mentally disordered and otherwise mentally vulnerable people.
	Guidance on local protocols relating to mental health, including an appropriate place of safety under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983, was issued to chief officers of police under Home Office Circular 17/2004. The guidance was issued in consultation with ACPO, the National Institute for Mental Health and other stakeholders.

Police

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been made against the police since 1997 in each year in (a) England, (b) Essex and (c) Southend.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 11 July 2005
	Figures held by the Home Office for complaints made against the police since 1997 to 2004 for England are amalgamated with those against Welsh police services.
	The responsibility for collating figures after 2004 falls to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and will not be published until later this year. I will ensure that the chairman receives a copy of the question and replies to you directly once the figures are published. Copies of the letter containing the IPCC's response will be placed in the House Libraries.
	Under the Police Reform Act 2002, the chief constable of Essex police has the responsibility for recording all complaints made against his staff. Your request for complaints made against the police in Southend has been passed to him. I will ensure that he replies to you directly and copies of the letter containing Essex Police's response will be placed in the House Libraries. directly and copies of the letter containing Essex police's response will be placed in the House Libraries.
	
		
			  England and Wales Essex Southend 
		
		
			 199798 35,820 (81) (81) 
			 199899 31,653 (81) (81) 
			 19992000 30,807 538 (81) 
			 200001 31,034 549 (81) 
			 200102 26,710 540 (81) 
			 200203 24,562 436 (81) 
			 200304 25,376 500 (81) 
			 200405 (81) 590 (81) 
		
	
	(81)Not held

Police

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the three-year cumulative change in formula grant funding for the police forces in England and Wales between 200304 and 200506 (a) before and (b) after the floor damping scheme.

Hazel Blears: The information is set out in the table.
	
		 million
		
			  Formula grant before floor damping Formula grant after floor damping 
			 Local authority 200304 200506 Change 200304 200506 Change 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset police 157.1 172.2 15.1 157.1 170.0 12.9 
			 Bedfordshire police 60.2 65.7 5.5 60.1 65.1 5.0 
			 Cambridgeshire police 73.2 80.1 6.9 71.1 77.9 6.8 
			 Cheshire police 105.6 110.8 5.3 103.9 111.3 7.4 
			 Cleveland police 84.5 91.9 7.4 84.1 90.9 6.8 
			 Cumbria police 57.8 61.0 3.2 57.7 62.1 4.4 
			 Derbyshire police 97.3 103.7 6.4 97.9 105.0 7.0 
			 Devon and Cornwall police 160.4 171.2 10.8 161.5 173.0 11.5 
			 Dorset police 58.6 61.8 3.2 61.6 66.0 4.4 
			 Durham police 81.7 86.9 5.2 81.5 87.8 6.3 
			 Dyfed-Powys(82) 48.9 51.0 2.1 49.3 52.2 2.9 
			 Essex police 143.3 153.3 10.0 155.9 167.0 11.1 
			 GLApolice 1788.5 1976.3 187.9 1764.0 1927.8 163.8 
			 Gloucestershire police 56.5 59.8 3.3 57.0 61.1 4.1 
			 Greater Manchester police 388.5 418.3 29.8 380.8 412.5 31.7 
			 Gwent(82) 69.6 72.9 3.3 69.6 74.1 4.5 
			 Hampshire police 179.7 192.7 13.0 184.5 197.7 13.2 
			 Hertfordshire police 97.0 104.1 7.1 101.5 108.8 7.3 
			 Humberside police 111.1 118.2 7.0 110.9 118.9 7.9 
			 Kent police 168.7 177.9 9.2 176.8 189.5 12.6 
			 Lancashire police 179.1 192.1 13.0 177.1 190.8 13.7 
			 Leicestershire police 98.9 109.8 10.9 98.8 107.7 9.0 
			 Lincolnshire police 58.2 64.0 5.7 58.7 63.4 4.7 
			 Merseyside police 243.1 255.6 12.5 240.5 257.7 17.2 
			 Norfolk police 79.6 86.0 6.4 79.6 85.9 6.3 
			 North Wales(82) 73.4 76.3 2.9 73.4 78.3 4.9 
			 North Yorkshire police 68.2 72.6 4.4 70.4 75.4 5.0 
			 Northamptonshire police 64.2 69.2 5.0 62.2 67.8 5.6 
			 Northumbria police 221.1 235.4 14.3 214.3 232.2 17.8 
			 Nottinghamshire police 123.7 133.9 10.1 123.6 133.3 9.8 
			 South Wales(82) 158.3 165.1 6.8 163.0 174.5 11.5 
			 South Yorkshire police 172.7 184.1 11.4 172.3 185.7 13.4 
			 Staffordshire police 104.3 111.0 6.7 105.8 113.3 7.6 
			 Suffolk police 63.1 67.6 4.5 63.9 68.5 4.6 
			 Surrey police 71.1 77.2 6.1 85.4 91.5 6.1 
			 Sussex police 144.8 152.1 7.4 153.1 164.0 10.9 
			 Thames Valley police 204.0 216.5 12.5 205.9 220.6 14.7 
			 Warwickshire police 47.8 52.0 4.1 48.2 51.8 3.6 
			 West Mercia police 103.0 109.3 6.3 104.4 111.8 7.4 
			 West Midlands police 413.6 442.3 28.7 386.5 426.5 40.0 
			 West Yorkshire police 298.6 318.3 19.6 289.4 313.6 24.2 
			 Wiltshire police 58.7 61.7 3.0 58.7 62.9 4.3 
		
	
	(82)Because the Welsh Assembly does not operate a grant damping mechanism, the Home Secretary has for several years provided additional funding to ensure Welsh police authorities receive at least a minimum increase in grant in line with English authorities. These additional grants amounted to 5. 1 million.

Police

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the effect on the grant to the Northamptonshire Police Authority was as a result of the Floor Damping scheme for formula grant funding in (a) 200304, (b) 200405 and (c) 200506.

Hazel Blears: Government funding for police authorities is chiefly allocated using a funding formula that distributes resources on the basis of relative need and resources. A damping mechanism subsequently applied to protect all authorities against financial instability ensures all authorities receive an increase in grant at least equal to the floor level on a like-for-like basis year-on-year. Grant floors will remain an integral part of the finance system.
	The general grant floor of 3.75 per cent. this year guaranteed a minimum increase in general grants for all police authorities. Northamptonshire Police Authority's increases are given in the table.
	
		Northamptonshire Police Authority general grants allocation
		
			  Before damping ( million) After damping ( million) Effect of damping ( million) Net increase (percentage) 
		
		
			 200304 64.2 62.2 -2.0 4.90 
			 200405 66.5 64.3 -2.2 3.30 
			 200506 69.2 67.8 -1.4 5.50 
		
	
	The average increases for England and Wales were 4.3 per cent., 3.3 per cent. and 4.8 per cent.

Police

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the last five years persons have been (a) charged with and (b) convicted of offences in relation to unauthorised (i)access to and (ii) disclosure of information held on the Police National Computer.

Hazel Blears: It is not possible to identify from the Home Office Court Proceedings database offences relating to the misuse of the Police National Computer, as details of individual offences are not centrally collected.
	The Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) get requests for investigations from forces on misuse of the police national computer should a force become suspicious of abuse of the system. Data on the number of prosecutions brought as a result of these investigations are not collected centrally.

Police

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in each police force in England and Wales were assaulted in each of the last five years.

Charles Clarke: The information requested relates to recorded offences of assault on a constable and is given in the table. The figures should be seen in the context of the introduction nationally of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) in April 2002. The effect of this was a 23 per cent. increase in overall recorded violence against the person.
	
		Recorded offences of assault on a constable
		
			 Police force area 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 305 312 319 405 534 
			 Bedfordshire 258 210 241 343 313 
			 Cambridgeshire 216 238 251 281 260 
			 Cheshire 522 483 554 617 724 
			 Cleveland 93 133 206 314 236 
			 Cumbria 212 145 204 181 183 
			 Derbyshire 610 571 634 848 399 
			 Devon and Cornwall 628 646 646 671 430 
			 Dorset 270 287 403 494 330 
			 Durham 1,032 1,077 1,248 1,078 181 
			 Dyfed-Powys 266 261 308 344 225 
			 Essex 410 352 352 498 578 
			 Gloucestershire 252 261 206 275 191 
			 Greater Manchester 1,891 1,905 1,972 2,016 796 
			 Gwent 530 641 505 595 316 
			 Hampshire 578 636 688 976 1,008 
			 Hertfordshire 257 304 387 449 702 
			 Humberside 523 509 538 754 439 
			 Kent 722 620 635 851 755 
			 Lancashire 973 1,239 1,366 1,536 814 
			 Leicestershire 213 315 337 447 432 
			 Lincolnshire 223 178 218 281 160 
			 London, City of 37 30 39 45 34 
			 Merseyside 1,237 1,429 1,361 1,651 979 
			 Metropolitan Police 1,401 1,367 1,269 1,908 2,796 
			 Norfolk 457 405 439 549 444 
			 North Wales 298 445 434 550 246 
			 North Yorkshire 508 426 449 582 274 
			 Northamptonshire 392 331 305 353 305 
			 Northumbria 1,018 1,171 1,176 1,608 588 
			 Nottinghamshire 433 477 543 452 509 
			 South Wales 720 868 893 1,032 700 
			 South Yorkshire 756 923 785 689 434 
			 Staffordshire 690 748 661 792 525 
			 Suffolk 245 255 297 362 321 
			 Surrey 209 266 223 288 413 
			 Sussex 760 891 1,120 1,089 625 
			 Thames Valley 826 802 1,254 1,527 709 
			 Warwickshire 286 258 259 310 233 
			 West Mercia 640 587 768 845 523 
			 West Midlands 2,606 3,234 3,811 2,817 360 
			 West Yorkshire 1,388 1,488 1,503 1,695 634 
			 Wiltshire 224 276 288 345 269 
			 Total 26,115 28,000 30,095 33,743 21,927 
		
	
	Note:
	The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002 and figures before and after that date are not directly comparable.

Police

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police stations in England were (a) open round the clock, (b) open part-time and (c) mothballed in the latest year for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: This information is not held centrally.
	The management of the police estate and allocation of resources are matters for each police authority and the chief officer, who make arrangements in the context of local needs. The ownership of police stations is vested in the local police authority, not the Home Office. Use and disposal of police premises are matters for local decision.

Prison Service

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recording methods are in place for the number of self-harm incidents occurring in women's prisons.

Fiona Mactaggart: In December 2002, the Prison Service introduced a revised system for self-harm data collection that required staff to complete an F213SH form for every incident of self-harm known to occur within the establishment, irrespective of the method, intent or severity of any injury: from superficial scratches of the skin to noose/ligature-making, self-suffocation and attempted hanging. The F213SH is used in all prisons, both male and female. The form is designed to be user-friendly and to enable the manageable and consistent collection of standardised, accurate information. The completed F213SH is then imputed to the Prison Service's Incident Reporting System (IRS).

Prison Service

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners committed suicide in prisons in London in (a) 1997 and (b) 2004.

Fiona Mactaggart: Eight prisoners apparently took their own lives in London prisons during the calendar year 1997; 12 prisoners apparently took their own lives in London prisons during the calendar year 2004.
	Reducing the number of such tragic incidents is a key priority, and an unprecedented amount of work is being done to reduce the likelihood of vulnerable individuals taking their lives.

Prison Service

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many remand prisoners self-harmed in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

Fiona Mactaggart: 1,294 remand prisoners are recorded as having self-harmed in 2003 and 1,367 in 2004. Remand prisoners are over-represented in self-harm statistics. The heightened risk is associated with the fact that the majority of remand prisoners are in the early phases of imprisonment. Remand prisoners, as compared to sentenced prisoners, have also been shown to have higher rates of a number of risk factors that we know increase the likelihood of self-harm, such as mental disorder, substance dependence, previous self-harm and previous abuse (Singleton et al, 1998).
	A broad, integrated and evidence-based prisoner suicide prevention and self-harm management strategy is in place.

Prison Service

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average age of a remand prisoner was in (a) 2002, (b) 2003 and (c) 2004.

Fiona Mactaggart: The average age of the remand population on 30 June in each of the years in question, as recorded on the Prison Service IT system, is as follows.
	
		
			  Average age 
		
		
			 2002 27 
			 2003 27 
			 2004 28

Prison Service

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) cost and (b) original budgeted figure for running each prison was in the financial year 200405.

Fiona Mactaggart: The costs and original budgeted figures for running each prison within the Public Prison Service for 200405 are given in table 1.
	The 200405 figures for contracted figures are not yet available. The costs for running each contracted prison in the financial year 200304 are given in table 2. The original budgeted figures for each contracted prison in 200304 are not held centrally.
	
		Table 1 -- 
		
			  Establishments-Public Prisons 200405 Budgets Adjusted 200405 actual spends 
		
		
			 001 Acklington 14,917,189.00 14,832,070.00 
			 002 Albany 11,320,478.00 11,200,111.00 
			 003 Ashwell 10,203,317.00 10,209,699.00 
			 004 Askham Grange 3,677,857.00 3,628,808.00 
			 005 Aylesbury 12,978,824.00 12,999,179.00 
			 006 Bedford 11,557,865.00 11,910,478.00 
			 007 Belmarsh 34,500,734.53 35,101,849.00 
			 008 Birmingham 29,392,199.50 28,115,788.50 
			 009 Blakenhurst 18,290,866.00 17,547,075.00 
			 010 Blantyre House 2,870,536.00 2,847,341.00 
			 011 Blundeston 11,083,124.00 11,220,183.00 
			 012 Brinsford 15,724,398.00 15,253,675.00 
			 013 Bristol 16,489,233.00 17,654,815.00 
			 014 Brixton 21,294,144.00 21,694,228.00 
			 015 Brockhill 6,678,925.00 7,066,126.00 
			 016 Buckley Hall 8,855,528.00 9,618,038.00 
			 017 Bullingdon 19,268,574.00 19,263,748.00 
			 018 Bullwood Hall 7,802,347.00 8,107,852.00 
			 019 Camp Hill 11,626,485.00 11,589,936.00 
			 020 Canterbury 7,052,229.00 7,028,161.00 
			 021 Cardiff 15,816,430.00 15,899,772.00 
			 022 Castington 14,131,341.00 14,049,927.00 
			 023 Channings Wood 13,398,331.29 13,496,966.29 
			 024 Chelmsford 15,317,287.00 15,601,356.00 
			 025 Coldingley 9,095,906.00 9,140,570.00 
			 026 Cookham Wood 4,827,303.00 4,674,198.00 
			 027 Dartmoor 14,725,573.33 14,941,524.33 
			 028 Deerbolt 13,872,100.00 13,998,620.00 
			 029 Dorchester 6,835,320.21 7,045,806.21 
			 030 Dover 8,612,362.00 8,611,126.00 
			 031 Downview 10,162,011.00 10,569,695.00 
			 032 Drake Hall 7,762,547.00 7,927,240.00 
			 033 Durham 21,935,991.30 21,897,082.30 
			 035 East Sutton Park 2,333,533.00 2,436,134.00 
			 036 Eastwood Park 10,072,400.00 10,274,898.00 
			 037 Elmley 16,774,961.70 16,768,875.70 
			 038 Erlestoke 8,261,755.00 8,270,228.00 
			 039 Everthorpe 9,961,465.00 9,558,717.00 
			 040 Exeter 11,916,771.70 11,964,286.70 
			 041 Featherstone 13,752,579.00 13,722,618.00 
			 042 Feltham 32,073,566.00 38,423,319.00 
			 043 Ford 7,174,864.00 8,155,014.00 
			 044 Foston Hall 7,782,342.00 7,857,140.00 
			 045 Frankland 30,931,213.00 32,131,897.92 
			 046 Full Sutton 25,486,631.56 25,664,941.00 
			 047 Garth 14,848,126.00 15,522,885.00 
			 048 Gartree 11,176,868.00 11,321,333.00 
			 049 Glen Parva 20,235,017.00 19,572,205.00 
			 050 Gloucester 14,075,935.25 9,427,751.00 
			 051 Grendon 14,310,307.00 14,704,902.00 
			 052 Guys Marsh 9,892,737.91 9,851,987.91 
			 053 Haslar 4,225,633.00 4,269,224.00 
			 054 Haverigg 11,041,151.00 11,714,695.00 
			 055 Hewell Grange 3,762,688.00 3,917,925.00 
			 056 Highdown 18,004,769.00 18,931,089.00 
			 057 Edmunds Hill 10,666,584.00 9,962,096.00 
			 058 Highpoint 14,039,750.00 14,034,826.00 
			 059 Hindley 19,691,362.00 18,645,130.00 
			 060 Hollesley Bay 6,709,050.89 6,873,864.89 
			 061 Holloway 24,934,009.96 25,575,085.96 
			 062 Holme House 20,756,951.00 20,527,752.00 
			 063 Hull 22,516,738.00 22,285,797.00 
			 064 Huntercombe 14,552,559.00 14,580,860.00 
			 065 Kingston 5,504,432.00 5,515,193.00 
			 066 Kirkham 12,849,421.00 13,179,918.00 
			 067 Kirklevington Grange 3,999,542.00 3,935,712.00 
			 068 Lancaster Castle 7,111,308.00 7,139,154.00 
			 069 Lancaster Farms 17,138,834.00 16,682,160.00 
			 070 Latchmere House 3,498,602.00 3,439,878.00 
			 071 Leeds 25,376,641.90 25,289,013.90 
			 072 Leicester 9,961,317.00 9,733,096.00 
			 073 Lewes 12,408,819.00 12,471,889.00 
			 074 Leyhill 10,655,272.00 11,042,872.00 
			 075 Lincoln 13,689,006.89 13,671,496.89 
			 076 Lindholme 19,545,565.00 19,278,106.00 
			 078 Littlehey 12,238,550.00 12,271,304.00 
			 079 Liverpool 27,067,777.23 28,102,218.23 
			 080 Long Lartin 21,193,519.14 21,227,384.00 
			 081 Low Newton 9,399,970.00 9,571,447.00 
			 082 Maidstone 11,587,849.00 11,293,615.00 
			 083 Manchester 29,575,723.20 29,740,822.00 
			 084 Moorland 22,383,083.10 22,512,870.10 
			 085 Morton Hall 8,365,652.00 7,915,508.00 
			 086 Mount (The) 14,440,389.00 14,259,835.00 
			 087 New Hall 15,265,071.00 15,352,984.00 
			 088 North Sea Camp 4,810,305.00 4,937,493.00 
			 089 Northallerton 6,134,252.00 6,084,423.00 
			 090 Norwich 16,892,523.00 16,645,920.00 
			 091 Nottingham 12,920,881.00 12,965,515.00 
			 092 Onley 15,199,286.00 14,813,252.00 
			 093 Parkhurst 14,842,047.00 14,873,068.00 
			 094 Pentonville 26,877,240.00 27,808,745.00 
			 095 Portland 12,680,018.77 12,708,962.77 
			 096 Preston 15,901,980.00 16,043,797.00 
			 097 Ranby 20,349,164.00 18,864,003.00 
			 098 Reading 8,257,293.83 8,269,537.83 
			 099 Risley 20,532,956.00 20,477,940.00 
			 100 Rochester 9,518,882.00 9,434,344.00 
			 101 Send 5,932,097.00 5,927,005.00 
			 102 Shepton Mallet 5,213,114.00 5,361,730.00 
			 103 Shrewsbury 8,208,040.00 8,229,798.00 
			 104 Stafford 13,614,637.00 13,908,420.00 
			 105 Standford Hill 8,916,002.00 8,886,705.00 
			 106 Stocken 11,496,212.00 11,341,130.00 
			 107 Stoke Heath 18,505,733.00 18,110,822.00 
			 108 Styal 13,807,418.00 14,226,049.00 
			 109 Sudbury 8,752,867.00 8,554,575.00 
			 110 Swaleside 14,727,483.02 15,222,670.02 
			 111 Swansea 9,597,035.00 9,493,789.00 
			 112 Swinfen Hall 14,974,139.00 13,310,927.00 
			 113 Thorn Cross 8,732,631.00 8,802,198.00 
			 114 Usk 8,148,437.00 8,173,464.00 
			 115 Verne (The) 10,088,740.28 10,113,137.28 
			 116 Wakefield 22,768,755.30 22,999,358.53 
			 117 Wandsworth 30,283,700.00 34,342,583.00 
			 118 Warren Hill 9,939,930.00 9,843,446.00 
			 119 Wayland 11,903,144.00 11,789,296.00 
			 120 Wealstun 17,246,355.00 16,543,704.00 
			 121 Weare (The) 8,025,496.84 8,177,635.84 
			 122 Wellingborough 11,252,974.00 10,914,454.00 
			 123 Werrington 6,871,995.00 6,862,585.00 
			 124 Wetherby 12,503,780.00 12,554,959.00 
			 125 Whatton 7,644,923.00 7,593,862.00 
			 126 Whitemoor 26,018,395.60 25,976,815.00 
			 127 Winchester 15,905,572.00 15,563,780.00 
			 129 Woodhill 27,799,691.82 27,901,035.00 
			 130 Wormwood Scrubs 28,280,356.00 28,952,573.00 
			 131 Wymott 21,154,820.00 20,838,883.00 
			  Total 1,780,527,322.05 1,789,761,387.10 
		
	
	
		Table 2
		
			 Establishment(83) Cost () 
		
		
			 Altcourse 31,158,524 
			 Ashfield 13,040,682 
			 Doncaster 19,097,051 
			 Dovegate 22,287,437 
			 Forest Bank 20,863,919 
			 Lowdham Grange 12,347,364 
			 Parc 31,240,577 
			 Rye Hill 14,202,366 
			 Wolds 6,776,755 
			 Total 171,014,675 
		
	
	(83)Table does not include Bronzefield and Peterborough, both of which opened after the reporting period.

Prison Service

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suicides there have been in each of the last 12 months, broken down by prison.

Fiona Mactaggart: The number of apparently self-inflicted deaths in prisons in England and Wales, July 2004June 2005 is provided in the table.
	Reducing the number of such tragic incidents is a key priority, and an unprecedented amount of work is being done in this area.
	The number of apparently self-inflicted deaths fluctuates. The four deaths in April and May this year represent the lowest in a two month period since 1992. Sadly, sometimes there are also apparent 'clusters' of self-inflicted deaths, such as the 16 deaths in June. Each death will be the subject of a coroner's inquest and a thorough investigation by the prisons and probation ombudsman. The Prison Service and contracted prisons will be looking to see if there are any early lessons to learn and act on.
	
		
			   Month   Establishment Number of apparently self-inflicted deaths 
		
		
			 July 2004 Blakenhurst 1 
			  High Down 1 
			  Liverpool 1 
			  Low Newton 1 
			  Manchester 1 
			  New Hall 1 
			
			 August 2004 Acklington 1 
			  Birmingham 1 
			  Bullingdon 1 
			  Dartmoor 1 
			  Elmley 1 
			  Exeter 1 
			  Leeds 2 
			  Norwich 1 
			  Shrewsbury 2 
			  Wakefield 1 
			  Wormwood Scrubs 2 
			
			 September 2004 Acklington 1 
			  Brixton 1 
			  Manchester 2 
			  Norwich 1 
			  Rochester 1 
			  Shrewsbury 1 
			  Wakefield 1 
			
			 October 2004 Brockhill 1 
			  Durham 1 
			  Hull 1 
			  KingstonPortsmouth 1 
			  Leicester 1 
			  Manchester 1 
			  New Hall 1 
			  Pentonville 2 
			 November 2004 Lincoln 1 
			  Manchester 1 
			  Swansea 1 
			  The Verne 1 
			  Wormwood Scrubs 1 
			
			 December 2004 Bedford 1 
			  Bullingdon 1 
			  Liverpool 1 
			
			 January 2005 Exeter 1 
			  Lancaster Farms 1 
			  Stoke Heath 1 
			  Swaleside 1 
			
			 February 2005 Altcourse 1 
			  Brinsford 1 
			  Gloucester 1 
			  New Hall 1 
			  Wandsworth 2 
			  Wymott 1 
			
			 March 2005 Chelmsford 1 
			  Full Sutton 1 
			  Holme House 1 
			  Leeds 1 
			  Lowdham Grange 1 
			  Preston 1 
			  Rye Hill 1 
			  Wakefield 1 
			
			 April 2005 Brixton 1 
			  Gloucester 1 
			
			 May 2005 Leicester 1 
			  Swansea 1 
			  
			 June 2005 Bristol 1 
			  Dorchester 1 
			  Durham 1 
			  Eastwood Park 1 
			  Gloucester 2 
			  Leicester 1 
			  Liverpool 4 
			  Norwich 1 
			  Pentonville 2 
			  Reading 1 
			  Weare 1

Prison Service

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support is given to women prisoners who enter prison with a drug addiction.

Fiona Mactaggart: A comprehensive range of drug treatment services is available to women prisoners with substance-misuse needs. These services include:
	Clinical services (detoxification and maintenance-prescribing programmes);
	CARATs (counselling, assessment, referral, advice and through- care services); and
	Intensive drug rehabilitation programmes.

Prison Service

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support is given to women prisoners who have previously been victims of domestic violence.

Fiona Mactaggart: A range of support is given to women prisoners who disclose that they have been victims of abuse, which may include the experience of domestic violence. This includes offering individual support of counselling; giving advice and information about abuse; and referral on to appropriate outside agencies. Individual establishments work closely with local community agencies with specialist expertise in abuse issues. The support offered will be determined following a full assessment of individual need.
	Copies of the Home Office leaflet on domestic violence are available to women in prison and a women's aid/refuge domestic violence number is on the recommended helpline list devised by the National Offender Management Service Safer Custody Group. Good Practice Guidelines for supporting women who have experienced abuse or domestic violence were circulated by the Prison Service Women's Team to all women's establishments in June 2005.

Prison Service

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on sexually-transmitted disease (a) prevention and (b) screening in prisons in England and Wales.

Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
	Services for the identification and management of sexually transmitted diseases are part of the overall health care services provided for prisoners, who are one of the target groups identified in the Department's national strategy for sexual health and HIV implementation action plan (2002). National health service primary care trusts are now responsible for commissioning the primary health care services at all but three of the publicly-run prison establishments in England. By April 2006, that responsibility will be fully devolved to the NHS.
	Prison doctors were advised in 1995 that they should make condoms available to individual prisoners, on application if, in their clinical judgment, there was a risk of the transmission of HIV infection during sexual activity. The Prison Service expects shortly to issue revised guidance and instructions aimed at clarifying its policy on condom provision and ensuring that it is applied more consistently across the estate.
	All prisoners undergo a health screening on first reception to identify those who have immediate health needs, or who are at a high risk of having a significant health problem. This, or other harm minimisation or health promotion resources, may result in individual prisoners requesting an appointment with a sexual health service, which may lead to testing, and associated pre-and post-test discussion, for blood borne viruses.

Prison Service

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2005, Official Report, column 472W, on Dartmoor prison, when he will place in the Library copies of contracts or agreements relating to the provision of offending behaviour courses by faith-based organisations at Dartmoor prison; what the budgeted cost is of the programmes; who bears the cost of the programmes; how many prisoners are taking part; and over what period the programmes will operate.

Fiona Mactaggart: A copy of the service level agreement between Dartmoor prison and The InnerChange Freedom Initiative Project has today been placed in the Library. The document sets out the agreement for the delivery of the programme to prisoners known as The InnerChange Freedom Initiative. The programme, which is delivered by the chaplaincy department, is wholly funded by the Tufton Trust, which is a charitable organisation, and no cost is borne by the Prison Service.
	There are currently 10 prisoners taking part in the programme which lasts a year and is based on Christian values. The programme is wholly multi-faith, and prisoners with diverse faiths and beliefs are currently represented. This is a pilot project in place for one year only at Dartmoor. Although it is evaluated at varying intervals, a full evaluation will be undertaken at the end of the pilot and results analysed and discussed before a decision is taken on whether or not to expand the project to other establishments.

Prison Service

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of current prisoners are repeat offenders.

Fiona Mactaggart: Of the sentenced prison population at 30 June 2002, 70 percent. of young males, 77 percent. of adult males and 50 percent. of adult females had at least one previous conviction for a standard list offence. More detailed figures available in the table.
	
		Population in prison establishments under sentence by number of previous convictions, age group and sex, England and Wales, 30 June 2002 -- Percentage
		
			 Previous convictions Young male offenders Adult male offenders Adult female offenders 
		
		
			 Nil 17 15 37 
			 12 18 12 12 
			 36 26 17 14 
			 710 16 14 9 
			 11 and over 10 34 15 
			 Unknown(84) 13 8 13 
		
	
	(84)The criminal history of the prison population was obtained by matching prison records to the Home Office criminal database, the offenders index. Information could not be matched for 13 percent. of young male offenders, 8 percent. of adult males and 13 percent. of adult females in prison at 30 June 2002 and thus previous convictions for these offenders could not be found.

Prison Service

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 6 July 2005, Official Report, column 547W on Transexual Prisoners, if he will give the reasons for the delay in publishing guidelines on the treatment of transexual prisoners.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Prison Service regrets that the need to devote resources to other work has meant that it has not yet proved possible to complete these guidelines. Prisoners with gender dysphoria are, however, already being cared for, managed and treated in accordance with the general principles contained in the emerging guidelines.

Probation Service

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many places are available in probation hostels in England and Wales; and how many were occupied by high risk offenders on the latest date for which figures are available.

Charles Clarke: As at 31 March 2005, 2,241 bedspaces were available in approved premises, formerly bail and probation hostels. Of those, 918 were occupied by offenders who are assessed as high or very high risk of harm to the public.

Probation Service

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the national probation directorate is taking to improve the retention of probation staff in probation areas in England and Wales.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 16 June 2005
	The National Probation Service (NPS) seeks at all times to retain the right profile of staff to deliver a high standard of service and to meet a stringent set of performance targets. The latest available figures for turnover of operational staff in the probation service in England and Wales are as follows:
	
		The latest available figures for turnover of operational staff in the probation service in England and Wales 
		
			 Grade Percentage 
		
		
			 SPO 6.30 
			 SP 3.14 
			 PO 7.07 
			 TPO 4.88 
			 PSO 9.47 
			 Ops Total 7.60 
		
	
	These figures are based on leavers in 200405 financial year who have left the service as a whole. For the same period the turnover rate for non-operational staff was 13.55 percent. The annual average turnover rate based on these figures is 10.06 percent. This figure is significantly better than the national average for the public and private sectors.
	As part of the service's strategy for building and maintaining an excellent, fit for purpose organisation, we are investing in our people by developing and supporting staff, building and refreshing their motivation and skills. This is being achieved in a number of ways including: designing and implementing new policies on pay, reward and conditions of service, work/life balance policies including flexible working; investment in leadership, management, training and development: and the development of a national workload measurement tool. These and other initiatives are designed, in part, to maintain a balanced workforce and make the NPS an employer of choice.
	However a small number of staff will always leave an organisation because their circumstances change or because they want to develop a career elsewhere. For staff committed to a career in the probation service we hope that that the measures outlined above will provide rewarding working environment.

Secure Training Centres

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of self-harm have been recorded in each secure training centre since they came into operation.

Charles Clarke: holding answer 11 July 2005
	Secure training centres record every instance of self harm and injury, including minor ones.
	No young people from Medway, Rainsbrook or Oakhill required hospital treatment as a result of self-harm during the period for which data are available (2001 onwards).
	With the tragic exception of Adam Rickwood, who died in August 2004, no young people at Hassockfield required hospital treatment as a result of self-harm during that period.
	Details are given in the following table:
	
		Self harm in secure training centres
		
			  2001(85) 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Medway 49 40 39 219 
			 Hassockfield 29 18 49 138 
			 Rainsbrook 13 35 84 70 
			 Oakhill(86)29 
		
	
	(85)Data for the period prior to 2001 is not available.
	(86)Oakhill secure training centre opened in August 2004.

Secure Training Centres

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many child protection matters have been referred to the local child protection team at each secure training centre; and what the outcome was of each referral.

Charles Clarke: holding answer 11 July 2005
	The following table sets out the available data.
	
		References of secure training centre trainees to local child protection teams
		
			 Centre 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Medway (87) (88)27 (88)16 (88)6 
			  
			 Rainsbrook (87) (87) (88)2 0 
			  
			 Hassockfield (88)45 (88)31 (88)35 (88)9 
			(89)1 (89)2 
			(90)1  
			 Oakhill (opened August 2004)   (88)26 (88)12 
			 (89)1 
			 (91)1 
		
	
	(87)Data not readily available.
	(88)No further action by CP team or police.
	(89)Matter outstanding.
	(90)Employment of one staff member terminated following charge for alleged assault.
	(91)CP team advised dismissal of staff member following inappropriate use of restraint.
	Note:
	Where there is no further action by Child Protection team (CP) or the police, the allegations are subject to the centre's internal investigation procedures. Details of these outcomes are not held centrally.

Secure Training Centres

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the rates of pay are for (a) duty directors, (b) duty operation managers, (c) training supervisors, (d) training assistants, (e) control room staff, (f) nurses and (g) other staff at secure training centres.

Charles Clarke: Rates of pay for the staff at secure training centres are as follows.
	
		Pay scales in secure training centres
		
			   Oakhill(92) Medway, Rainsbrook(93) 
		
		
			 Duty directors 38,000 to 40,000 (94) 
			 Duty operation managers 26,000 to 30,000 (94) 
			 Training supervisors 22,000 (95)18,727 
			   (96)20,214 
			 Training assistants 18,000 (97)16,524 
			   (98)17,947 
			 Control room staff 17,000 17,139 
			 NursesIn accordance with NHS pay scales (94) 
			 Other staff Other staff fit on pay scale of 15,000 to 26,000 (94) 
		
	
	(92)basic 42 hour week
	(93)basic 40 hour week
	(94)Commercial in confidence
	(95)Night Supervisors
	(96)Day Supervisors
	(97)Night Assistants
	(98)Day Assistants
	
		Hassockfield uses different staffing categories
		
			 Centre Hassockfield(99) () 
		
		
			 Duty director 33,000 
			 Head of education 34,226 
			 Residential care manager 28,135 
			 Residential care team leader 19,831 
			 Care officers 15,856 
			 Ops officers 14,916 
			 Nurses 24,870 
			 Admin staff (100)15,000 
		
	
	(99)basic 40 hour week
	(100)average

Secure Training Centres

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of staff at each secure training centre have been dismissed for misconduct in each of the last three years; and what reasons were given in each case.

Charles Clarke: Details for 2003 onwards are given in the following table:
	
		Reasons for dismissal of STC employees
		
			 Centre Year/Period Reason for dismissal 
		
		
			 Medway 2003 One member of staff dismissed for unacceptable comments, gestures and making physical contact with a female colleague 
			  2004 One member of staff dismissed for inappropriate comments, verbally abusive language, unacceptable comments of a sexual nature, refusal to comply with operational instruction 
			  2004 One member of staff dismissed for sexual harassment 
			  2004 One member of staff dismissed for falsifying records; not completing SASH (Suicide and Self Harm) watches or 15 minute watches 
			 Rainsbrook 2003 One member of staff dismissed for falsifying records; not completing SASH watches or 15 minute watches 
			 Oakhill 2005 One member of staff dismissed for inappropriate use of force 
			 Hassockfield 2003 One member of staff dismissed for inappropriate behaviour 
			  2004 One member of staff dismissed for inappropriate use of force 
			  2004 One member of staff dismissed for failure to report an incident 
			  2005 One member of staff dismissed for inappropriate use of force

Secure Training Centres

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of staff being referred to the Protection of Children Act (POCA) list have been recorded at each secure training centre since it came into operation; and how many referrals to the POCA list have resulted in names being included on the list.

Charles Clarke: The information requested is given in the table.
	
		Referrals to POCA list
		
			  Centre Referrals to POCA list Permanently included on list 
		
		
			 Medway 4 0 
			 Rainsbrook 1 0 
			 Oakhill 1 1 
			 Hassockfield 9 0

Security Industry (Regulation)

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many unregistered door supervisors the Security Industry Authority permitted to work through their Approved Contractors Scheme on the latest date for which figures are available;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of whether the Security Industry Authority's Approved Contractor Scheme is consistent with the recommendations of the Better Regulation Taskforce;
	(3)  whether he has met the National Security Inspectorate to discuss their concerns about the Security Industry Authority's Approved Contractor Scheme.

Hazel Blears: The Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) under the Private Security Industry Act (SIA) 2001 has not yet been implemented. The Home Office is currently working with the SIA and others to prepare a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) consultation document and has sought advice from the Better Regulation Taskforce. It will be issued for public consultation shortly. I will meet the National Security Inspectorate in early autumn to discuss their concerns on a variety of matters including the Approved Contractor Scheme.

Speed Cameras

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many motorists have been penalised as a result of the speed camera at the southern end of the M11.

Paul Goggins: I have been asked to reply.
	Information on penalties generated by individual speed cameras is not collected centrally.

Speed Cameras

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is given to police forces with regard to their participation in safety camera partnerships.

Hazel Blears: There is no such guidance. Decisions as to participation in the national safety camera scheme are an operational matter for individual chief officers of police.

UK Ancestry Visa

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the conditions are for granting a UK ancestry visa; how long applicants can be out of the United Kingdom on holiday or business without such absences affecting an application for indefinite leave to remain; and what changes to the rules have been made in the past five years.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 14 July 2005
	A Commonwealth citizen, aged 17 or over, who is able to show that one of his grandparents was born in the United Kingdom and Islands, that he intends to take or seek employment here and is able to maintain and accommodate himself without recourse to public funds may be granted leave and entry clearance on the basis of his United Kingdom ancestry. A person holding such an entry clearance will normally be admitted for an initial period of four years, and may apply for settlement at the end of that period.
	In order to qualify for entry to the United Kingdom under UK ancestry, an applicant would need to prove that he/she:
	is a Commonwealth citizen; and holds a valid United Kingdom entry clearance for entry in this capacity or has previously been granted an extension of stay in this capacity;
	is aged 17 or over; and
	is able to provide proof that one of his grandparents was born in the United Kingdom and Islands; and
	will be able to maintain and accommodate himself and any dependants without recourse to public funds; and
	is able to work and intends to take or seek employment in the United Kingdom.
	In assessing whether or not an applicant has fulfilled the current requirement to have spent four years in continuous residence in the same capacity, short absences abroad, for example for holidays (consistent with annual paid leave) or business trips (consistent with maintaining employment or self-employment in the United Kingdom), may be disregarded, provided he has clearly continued to be based here.
	In addition, time spent here in this capacity may exceptionally be aggregated, and continuity not insisted upon, in cases where there have been no absences abroad apart from those described above and authorised employment has not been broken by any interruptions of more than three months or amounting to more than six months in all. The only change that has been made to the UK ancestry rules in the last five years is the no switching for UK ancestry policy which was introduced on 25 October 2004. A person seeking leave to enter on the basis of United Kingdom ancestry must hold an entry clearance for that purpose. Leave to remain will only be granted if the person entered the United Kingdom with holding a UK ancestry entry clearance based on their UK ancestry or if they had previously been granted leave to remain on the basis of UK ancestry. A person cannot switch into this category after entry to the United Kingdom.
	No other changes have been made in the last five years.

Uninsured Drivers

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers were prosecuted for driving without insurance in each of the last three years, broken down by police authority area.

Paul Goggins: Information from the Home Office court proceedings database on the number of defendants prosecuted for driving with no insurance, by police authority area, 200103 is contained in the table.
	Statistics for 2004 will be available in the autumn.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts under S.143(2) Road Traffic Act 1988 by police force area, 2001031Offence description: Using motor vehicle uninsured againstthird party risksStatute: Road Traffic Act 1988 S.143(2)
		
			  Proceeded against 
			 Police force area 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 7,355 8,293 9,620 
			 Bedfordshire 2,879 2,871 3,065 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,334 1,518 1,728 
			 Cheshire 3,011 3,434 4,052 
			 City of London 1,423 1,820 1,947 
			 Cleveland 2,701 3,392 3,041 
			 Cumbria 1,791 1,776 1,859 
			 Derbyshire 3,185 3,216 3,428 
			 Devon and Cornwall 5,304 5,735 5,831 
			 Dorset 2,448 2,875 3,315 
			 Durham 3,229 3,241 2,947 
			 Essex 5,076 5,152 4,791 
			 Gloucestershire 2,353 2,248 2,648 
			 Greater Manchester 22,613 23,104 25,678 
			 Hampshire 5,970 6,097 6,220 
			 Hertfordshire 3,869 4,675 5,147 
			 Humberside 2,591 2,377 2,879 
			 Kent 7,230 8,163 7,264 
			 Lancashire 9,897 10,552 13,431 
			 Leicestershire 5,927 5,936 6,902 
			 Lincolnshire 2,384 2,338 3,264 
			 Merseyside 5,585 6,622 8,288 
			 Metropolitan Police(102) 19,052 22,113 26,797 
			 Norfolk 2,753 3,166 3,812 
			 North Yorkshire 1,575 1,506 1,703 
			 Northamptonshire 1,140 666 2,903 
			 Northumbria 7,152 7,045 7,470 
			 Nottinghamshire 3,659 3,431 4,359 
			 South Yorkshire 7,833 7,394 7,226 
			 Staffordshire 3,284 4,213 4,352 
			 Suffolk 2,310 2,594 3,225 
			 Surrey 2,738 3,122 2,592 
			 Sussex 4,378 3,941 3,374 
			 Thames Valley 7,427 8,056 9,897 
			 Warwickshire 2,398 1,853 2,038 
			 West Mercia 5,229 5,325 5,351 
			 West Midlands 15,281 19,533 23,354 
			 West Yorkshire 16,313 13,636 15,933 
			 Wiltshire 2,985 2,985 2,713 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1,752 2,057 1,978 
			 Gwent 2,813 2,673 2,248 
			 North Wales 1,781 2,402 3,799 
			 South Wales 7,562 9,042 9,449 
			 Total 227,570 242,188 271,918 
		
	
	(101)These data are on the principal offence basis
	(102)Includes City of London

Violent Crime

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on how the sport of airsoft will be affected by the provisions of the Violent Crime Reduction Bill.

Hazel Blears: Only realistic imitation firearms will be caught by the proposed ban on manufacture, import or sale; owners of existing airsoft guns will be able to retain and use them. We are currently considering representations about the effect the Violent Crime Reduction Bill will have on airsoft games and whether any exemptions from the provisions of the Bill would be appropriate.

Vulnerable Witnesses

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the intermediary scheme provided for in the special measures for vulnerable witnesses of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 will be rolled-out nationally.

Fiona Mactaggart: The intermediary special measure is currently being piloted in Devon and Cornwall, Merseyside, West Midlands, Thames Valley, Norfolk and South Wales. The pilot is being evaluated in order to identify good practice to provide a model for national roll out. Evaluation will continue until March 2006 after which a decision on the precise timetable for full implementation of the scheme across England and Wales will be taken.

Vulnerable Witnesses

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the intermediary scheme provided for in the special measures for vulnerable witnesses of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999.

Fiona Mactaggart: The intermediary special measure is currently being piloted in Devon and Cornwall, Merseyside, West Midlands, Thames Valley, Norfolk and South Wales. The pilot is currently being evaluated in order to identify good practice to provide a model for national roll out. Emerging findings have shown that intermediaries are enabling access to justice for some of the most vulnerable people in society.